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

January 31, 2019January 31, 2019 Laura GraceLeave a comment

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.”

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.

39 These 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.”

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The Magnificent Mentor (Gods’ gift to me)

January 15, 2019January 15, 2019 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

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Word on Pride (a most deceptive sin)

November 6, 2018 Laura GraceLeave a comment

I don’t even want to admit to you how many times I’ve had pride rise up in my life like bread with leaven (Yeast) Leavened bread puffs up (sound familiar?) and that’s why Jesus warned his disciples about it “beware of the yeast” of the Pharisees……..

When we do good things like go to church, study our bibles daily, pray all the time, faithful stewards of our things (or whatever) it’s so easy to get into pride about it and consider ourselves to be “OBEDIENT” and then become like clanging cymbals in the ears and hearts of others…………

God is not impressed when we beat our chest and say how very righteous we are. it’s a big stench in his nostrils…

By his Grace we are saved by his Grace we are led into obedience, by his Grace we carry out his plans…..

by his Grace, By his Grace, By his Grace & his power alone.

“Only God can circumcise our hearts by the power of his Spirit, in Jesus’ name! Colossians 2:22-23

“These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”

God circumcises our hearts (cuts away) what is not of him
BY HIS POWER……”Col 2:11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands.”

TO HIM BE THE GLORY FOREVER! Our God Reigns!

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I’m a Grace-Walker…………

September 29, 2018October 2, 2018 Laura GraceLeave a comment

Many years ago, I bought this glass and brass shelf. It was exactly like the one pictured here. It took over a year to pay it off, making 20.00 payments per month. A family I loved came to visit, and the children were being wild, running too close to the fragile shelf. At least twice I said, “be careful, stop running, please.” They did not stop.

To my horror, one kid was pushed by another, he fell into she shelf, shattering the bottom plate. I was so upset! I remember knowing I was going to freak out and say something bad, so I went outside to pray. “what do I do Father?” I said, tears in my eyes, and anger in my heart. I refused to go inside, until I knew his direction.

He let me know what to do, but mind could not believe it. He wanted me to let it go.

After praying a bit more, I went inside and said, “It’s okay, you mean more to me than the shelf.” I prayed for the children, Asking God to bless them and lead him to his love by his lovingkindness. The bible does say, “the lovingkindness of God” leads people to repentance, does it not? Now there have been other cases, the Lord wanted me to enforce a rule (For the sake of all involved) but not in this particular case.

My mind was raging “then they will never learn!” Oh man was I upset. After I did what I was told (by God’s Spirit) I had total and complete peace about the matter.

I never know what God is going to do next. All I can say is, I”m a Grace walker, not a law-keeper. I have never been justified by keeping God’s laws (or commandments) and I never will be. The only hope I have, is to receive and wear the righteousness he bestowed upon me. We grow into these clothes and we are not overnight success stories!

Growing is hard on us. We stumble (at times) we fall, break our leg spiritualy speaking and sometimes skin our knees. Do we want to to this? No! We do not! We can alleviate some of the growing pains by pressing in For God’s wisdom and walking closely to him, allowing him to hold our hand until we are truly ready to “cross the street by ourselves” so to speak. I pray to never forget who I am IN HIM. Saved by Grace, led by his Spirit, taught by his love. Christ being “formed” in us is different from keeping his laws.

Sometimes we want to say “Just tell me the rules Father” (as it seems easier.) Relationship with him requires day to day surrender, and let’s face it, our flesh wants a break from it sometimes. We do well not to allow such things, but if we do, he’ll be standing there waiting for us to come back, take his hand, and start again.

LG (Laura Grace) Author, Grace to Grow, Dysfunctional People, and Grace to Grow.

I am a grace walker, not a law keeper. In following after him, I will eventualy fullfill whatever laws he intends for me to fullfill. For he has fullfilled them all, on my behalf! I am only learning from Him.

“You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.” Galatians 5:4

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“Tit for Tat” is not all that. A Message about Justice……..

September 6, 2018 Laura GraceLeave a comment

praying woman.jpg Why Should I?”

Often people ask themselves this, “Why should I?” show love or be honest, kind, or just? “Nobody else is” they say to themselves. Why should I do the right thing?

To be called to do the right thing when others seem to always be doing the wrong thing is a very high calling. To become and example to others is a privilege. “Tit for Tat” is not all that. Getting even is unfullfilling. It makes you just like the person you were mad at, or angry with. Forgivness is liberating. IT”S A BLESSING! Trust me. Trust God! “LET IT GO”…….

Yes, I’ve seen some injustice that would make your hair curl (AND stand on end.) I’ve cried about it, lost days of my life being upset about it: NONE of which changed a thing about it! If I go and try to get even I’ll be unfullfiled, just as sad as I was before AND I’ll become like those who hurt me. Not a good outcome.

Pray with me:

“Father I trust you to make things right! You are the God of Justice and you care about this more than I do! You see everything! I have decided to give all this injustice to you right now Father and trust you for the outcome! Help me forgive those who have trespassed against me, or hurt me or ……

Whatever they have done Father you saw it. I TRUST YOU. if Justice is you finally show them your everlasting love and kindness for them SO BE IT. I will rejoice in their salvation. I will hold no grudges ……..

Oh Father, Help me be like you! This (we) pray in Jesus’ name, Amen

Psalm 103:6 The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed.

-Laura Grace

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Being a Faith Person, in a cynical world

August 28, 2018August 28, 2018 Laura GraceLeave a comment

Good Morning!

I find myself thinking this morning, how difficult it can be to be a faith person, in a cynical world.

I am an oddity to many, and I perceive that many just wonder, (and worry a little for me) when they hear the things I believe, and the things I say, on any given day.

I am prone to speak faith over situations, and defy the laws of the natural with my words (and prayers). I don’t necessarily believe in “JUST” asking God for something, I believe in speaking faith words into the atmosphere.

Many do not agree with me, but they are a little bit afraid to argue, too. I can almost hear their thoughts.

“Should I say something to Laura?” “Doesn’t she realize she isn’t always going to “get what she says?” Or “does she realize God is Sovreign, and what happens, is up to him?” When I speak big things in Faith, I’m sure they wonder, “Is she going to be okay when it doesn’t “GO” How she thinks it will?”

Many often think I do need a “reality check.”. Know how I know? No, so I will tell you: I know by the things people (often) say to me what they truly believe.

They don’t believe they are cynical. They believe they are right.

Jesus really did say in Matthew 21 ” but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.”

This does not mean every problem we have we just “speak to it’ and it goes away (according to our whim). However, there are times we do! And, things happen!

The “Blab it and Grab it” crowd gives Jesus a bad reputation! I don’t see Jesus speaking to every circumstance that was unpleasant, do you? So when we do this, our immaturity shows for all the world to see! And you give the gospel “a bad name” if you treat his word like a magical sceptor for your own personal gain.

Jesus did many different things at different times, as he “Did the Will of his Father in Heaven” (John 5:30). There were prophets in the Old Testament who spoke things (by Faith) some of it never happened in their lifetime, They still believed it.

A doctrine of man is when ONE thing he did, is emphasized to the point the full message of God gets distorted. If we want to be like Him (Christ-Like) we will reject none of his ways (or methods) but at the same time we will also not take one thing he does (or did) and blow it out of proportion.

I speak to situations when he leads me to do so. Those who have tried, or have seen someone, try to get rid of every problem Just by speaking Faith (when their hearts did not even believe what they were saying) Begin to get cynical, and think they have to “straighten out” Faith people, who seem to be ‘over the top.” It’s not one or the other, GOD”S WILL OR You Speaking Faith like he did!

You can believe for his Will AND speak Faith (to your Mountain) at the same time! The question is, what has his Word taught you to believe? Do you know what it says about every situation? (His word) or are you just listening to those who claim to know?

And why should we even believe them? Who are THEY to say what you should believe or not believe? Isn’t that between you and God, in your Covenant with Him?

Something to ponder,

By Laura Grace Author, https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Grow-study-guide-Rescue/dp/197333187X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1535463548&sr=8-1&keywords=grace+to+grow+by+Laura+graceGrace to Grow

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The Spiritual side; An excerp from my upcoming book:

June 30, 2018 Laura GraceLeave a comment

On the Spiritual Side

There really is such a thing as the devil, demons and evil influences that are spiritual. We are not talking about that here, because that subject has been covered amply in my opinion. There are books out there all over the place on how to deal with spiritual matters if we care to read them. I’ve read many, and I agree with many.

The revelation I have; is that someone who refuses to grow or get in with God about going forward in him; potentially sets the stage to have spiritual demonic influence get a hold of them. Why? Because they have not been going forward. Even in the natural, stagnant ponds draw bugs, bacteria, and all kinds of smelly things.

It stands to reason that a stagnant person not growing and keeping all their stinky attitudes might draw help from the dark side; if they don’t do anything about it.

I believe just as a person seeking and following God is a magnet for good things, a person who is only seeking to be evil, fleshly, or bad draws dark influences toward them. We can look at nature and see many truths if we only pay attention.

We know we need to develop and grow and so many like me; search the scriptures for answers. There are no scriptures to tell you that it’s childish to get fussy about food, or to preach at everyone all the time or other than the famous Mary and Martha story; when we might be over the top about our priorities.

It’s safe to use bible stories because then we hopefully won’t venture into what most Christians consider to be “enemy territory.”

I have a friend that wants me to write a book on how to study; and I’m perplexed about how to write it. From the knowledge of this world and studies that have been done (which are truths by the way) I know that there are different types of learners. Some people learn better from visual, while others learn better via audio. Still others, like myself, are called abstract learners.

Those types of truths are not any different from truths about how to arrange flowers or how to fix a car the right way. We need knowledge to correctly learn how to grow along with spiritual principles and the Holy Spirit as our guide.

Consider this passage as I have read and pondered it often:

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.”

2 Peter 1; 5-9 (NIV).

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Traditions: Don’t get stuck (in them)

April 10, 2018 Laura GraceLeave a comment

All the kids 2016 — My Family……(some of them) daughter Carolee and family not pictured

I”m going to tell you something right now that I have FIRST received for myself (through hard correction by the Spirit of God!)

A lot of traditions we have and hold dear, or “ways of doing things” are just that: “Things we hold dear.” When we get too stodgy or stuck on OUR WAY Of doing things, we leave little room for the Holy Spirit to move. When we gather with family how about saying “what do you want, Holy Spirit? Or “Jesus do your will in my family today……..”

Or “What is your will in my church today?” “do you want to do a new thing? Help me NOT TO GET IN YOUR WAY” (amen!)

I recently let go of a “tradition” it was very hard for me- but, it turned out good! (I let the Lord have his way!!)

I thought because I’ve been serving God for over 30 years, am filled with the Spirit have read the bible 7 or 8 times wrote books, sat at bible studies for years “I KNEW” certain things!

But let me tell you something, we don’t KNOW what the Lord wants to do next unless we ask him! We need to stay fresh (who likes old bread?) We need FRESH Bread! FRESH anointing!

FRESH Ideas too! The generation coming up needs the gospel to be spoken to them in a language they can understand. i want you to remember something (And God showed me this too)

We who are over 50 are now “the older people’ that used to get on our cases when we were in our 20’s. Whatever traditions they had some were not so important to us. We need to remember our younger generation has ideas too…….

And some of them are very Good ideas! bless them! Set them free to work for Jesus and for the future that lies ahead…the patriarchs of old layed hands on their kids ‘and blessed them”

amen ..

Laura Grace

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The importance of knowing God- (the most important message in my heart)

March 16, 2018March 16, 2018 Laura GraceLeave a comment

On the radio yesterday, I heard this preacher ask, “If you could preach one sermon only (before you die) what would you preach?” The question captivated me for some reason.

I started pondering it, and realized if I could say one thing only, I would talk about the importance of knowing God (for yourself) and not just hear-say on what others have said about him.

I believe what others say about God, should cause us to seek him out for ourselves.

“I heard” the restaurant had really good food, (we say), “Think I”ll check it out one day for myself.” Let’s face it, the quest to know Jesus (and God the Father) is a scary quest at best.

What if we hear wrong? “Make up stuff in our head, and call it God?” What if the voice we hear is not God? For we do know if there is God, then there is a devil! What if he speaks to us? Will we know the difference between God’s voice and his?

And why should God even speak to me? And, what if he says something that disagrees with my pastor, my parents, my friends or someone else I look up to, or respect?

I see, the safe route is to just go along with the program, trust that everything that happens to me is God’s will, and float along with a lot of great intentions. After all, God does know my heart, so he can just let me know if he wants to speak, right?

I think we all know, deep down, we are supposed to ask Him. Talk to him. Not about every little thing we want today but, “The important questions.” If we really believe he loves us, we should not be afraid to ask. God sent his Son Jesus to die for us so we could still have the right to ask anything of Him.

What would please you most? That your children want your goodies, or they want to know you? Would you be pleased if they got to know you “from others” who claimed to know you? No.

The parable in Matthew 25:26 reveals the seriousness of making assumptions. “Well Lord, I thought you were (like this)” Or “Like that……” …..

In John 4:10 Jesus told the woman at the well, “If you knew who I am, you would have asked for living water.” Matthew 7:21-23 contains a very stern warning from Jesus, which includes the idea if we didn’t do what he said, he will say he didn’t know us. He is talking to people who did “wonders in his name.”

Wow. I guess knowing him (and him knowing us) is pretty important. Beyond important, it’s crucial to our eternal lives. (did you look up those scriptures?).

On that day your physical body dies and you meet with Jesus (and you will, I promise), he is not going to say ‘what did the preacher say?”

He isn’t going to ask what your Sunday school teacher taught you, or what that book said, or this book said. He died a bloody awful death so YOU could know him and be reconciled to God our Father in heaven.

The question is, after Jesus said that to the Samaritian woman, did she even ask for living water? We don’t know, because the bible does not tell us that information. We know she ran off to tell everyone about this man who knew all about her, but I don’t see a record for her saying, ‘Okay Jesus, please do give me this living water you are talking about!”

John 4:42 says after the woman had told them about her encounter with Jesus, they went and sought him out. Then these people said,

“Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

So the question is; Do you know God personally for yourself? Does he know you? Why or why not? (to both questions!).

Have we been taught the criteria for knowing Him? Or do we just follow along with everyone else, Assuming that we know him? Assuming that he knows us?

I challenge you today, the most important relationship in your life may be suffering from Neglect. And I also challenge you to do something about it. Right here & Right now. Talk to Jesus. He hears you. And make your prayers to him count for something other than ‘assuming’ what you ought to pray.

With Love, Laura Grace, Author and Ambassador for Christ.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:20 NKJV.

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

February 9, 2018February 25, 2018 Laura GraceLeave a comment

Did 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.

(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, ⁶to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, ⁷to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. ⁸For 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