Category: having compassion in the body of Christ

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Christmas Story #8 You don’t have to have money to be generous……..

Laura GraceLeave a comment

12 days extra extraChristmas story #8 Jesus is real. I testify!

One of my Life changing Scriptures is found in Jude 22 “And on some have compassion, making a distinction. 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”

If someone comes to me with a problem they are going to get the word of God, Prayer and Jesus! The way I see it, if they don’t want him they aren’t ready for help. And if they won’t receive him I can’t help them either. Now you know. I am radical!

The bible says a generous person will prosper. Now I don’t care so much if it’s financially but I Know it makes our soul prosper. We don’t have to have money to be generous. We can give our time, our love, a cookie, or even a prayer.

I met a guy one time in a housing project, he asked me to pray for him during Christmas time. He was “having such bad thoughts” he said.

After we prayed, he brought me a painting he had painted and said to me “I have to give this to you!” It was a nice painting.

I said why? “Because”, he says, ‘I just know I will feel better if I do.” 
He gave me this gift and as far as I know he was fine after that.

I don’t know why he was compelled to do that, but he was having murderous thoughts and it was scaring him. When He told me, it kind of scared me also. 

I just said “LET”S PRAY!” I know who the counsellor is. His name is Jesus! 
You don’t need a minister license to represent Jesus. All you need, is faith If you don’t have any start today praying on little things, and read your bible!

Oh I forgot to tell you why he asked me for prayer! Everywhere I go I talk about Jesus. I don’t even remember how it came up, but as people oten tell me, Nobody can be around you long without Jesus coming up! (Good!) 

I either drive them crazy or they ask me questions OR they run away! Why would we not tell the reason we are okay in this world? If hearing about Jesus drives them crazy, they are not ready for him. Yet. 

Jesus is still the answer! so get your brave shoes on and next time someone has a problem, offer to pray with them. And if you need help. Ask me for prayer! I will be happy to pray for you and I won’t judge you. Jesus is not some picture on the wall to me or someone I was ‘told about” He is REAL! And he loves you!  and thank you those who pray when I ask (You know who you are!) and I love you very much.

With Love,

Laura Grace

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

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Relationship #2 No Drama “YOU” are you who you want to be?

Laura GraceLeave a comment

Relationship 9

Relationships #2 YOU (Is at the core of every relationship.) Are you who you want to be?

“Being Real” is something we hear all the time. You should “be real” (They say). But it’s not defined. What does being real mean to you? Your anger (about social injustice) outrage (over the issues of life) or even grief, pain, sorrow…..(over untold Losses)

That’s not WHO you really are. is it? No. At the core or heart of relationship-is who WE are. If we don’t like ourselves how do we expect others to like us? If we are not at peace with ourselves, how can anyone else be at peace with us?

Can anyone MAKE us happy? (including God?). I am reminded of the story of Jesus and the man at the pool of Bathesda, (in John, chapter 5) where he said “do you want to be made well?”

Mental health is every bit as important (if not more important) than physical health. Many of us were “messed up” in our minds over things that happened throughout our lives. Abuse. Bullying. Social Injustices. And you don’t have to be a minority to experience discrimination, favoritism, and being left out by those ‘Elitists.”

It all hurts, and it all affects us (deeply) in our hearts.

A whole (Healed) Person has a Healed Soul and Mind. Did you notice Jesus dealt with this man’s heart? (and mind?) “Do you want to be well?”

Do you want to be made well? God asked me one time if I wanted Restoration or Compensation! (Wow!) I chose Restoration. Compensation is what you get when you sue someone over what was done to you. Or get “payment” for your loss.

I don’t want compensation. I want restoration! I choose life!

Even in relationships we have to ask this question: “do we want to get along?” (or do we just want to argue?). Do we want to do the work it takes to have a great relationship?

What’s important to us? What matters most? And truly “WHO” do we wish to be? A fighter? Scrapper? Conquerer? Leader of the band? Or do we wish to have our identity forever be “continual victim” because we believe this is our lot in life?

1.Who do you want to be? And why? God really wants to know! Let him know who you would like to be! Then ask “what he wants you to be!” This is relationship at it’s finest. TWO WAY (not one way).

2. Make peace with yourself (However long it takes)

3. Be a friend (to yourself) And receive all God has for you. This will make you a better friend to others…in the long run (and a better spouse, better employeee, and so on and so forth). This means “Being willing to take correction”.

You’d be amazed at the things I’ve said to Jesus. I came to the conclusion years ago…”He already knows” so.I may as well tell him the truth! Trust me, he can handle it. I’ve said things to God that are so shocking I waited for lightning to hit me! But it didn’t! His love enveloped me instead…….(I testify!)

You can’t “offend him” by telling him the truth! I feel like Giving up Father! I have had about enough Father! I need you to show me Father (And let him know what you truly believe you need from him). I will give you a clue however……that when we ask him for what he already wants to give us, it’s likely to happen a lot quicker.

1 John 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (NKJV) Peace! Until Next time, -Laura Grace

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All lives matter……..

Laura GraceLeave a comment

JESUS IS THE ROCK.jpg

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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Adding insult to Injury: Job’s Friends

Laura GraceLeave a comment

In the book of Job we find these words:

“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil”

I just love old Testament stories! There is so much to be gleaned from there, especially when one does not use it as a gathering place for more correction. Just look at the story, see the man, see the woman of God (as they are) and let God paint the picture for you.

An overview of the story, is that satan went before God- and said that if Job were to lose everything, he would curse God and not worship him. He said “If you take away your protection” (paraphrased), your righteous man will be righteous no more.

 My take on it is:

God was protecting Job from satan, and this was pre-Jesus, as he had not yet come to earth to die for our sins. Satan accused him, and there was no one there yet to defend Job. He had no advocate. No one to intercede for him. So while he was in his trial, he basically interceded for himself, and God answered him. 

So satan didn’t waste any time, once he had “permission” and notice nobody was praying for Job (I say again) and Jesus had not yet come to earth, to save and redeem us.

Job lost everything, including his health, for a while.

His friends came to comfort him, and started out pretty good (sitting with him for 7 days) but then their true colors came out. Whew! The things they said (oh boy!) Reminds me of church people sometimes. 🙂 Read it sometime! 

Job got accused of self-righteousness, folly, a need to repent, that he had brought this on himself, or that God was chastizing him. Worse  yet at one point, it was suggested he just curse God and die. 

Not a good thing.

His friends went on and on, until he finally called them “miserable comforters” and in Chapter 16 said his friends had “withered him up.” In other words, what satan could not do, his friends were almost able to do. (DO him in completely).

In the end, the only way the friends could be okay, is if Job prayed for them. God’s rules. God’s Justice, In action “If you pray for them,” (God said)………….they’ll be ok. 

     Sounds like Jesus! 

See, we see what we think we see, but God sees all (the truth) from heaven. Job’s friends had a bad case of “tunnel vision.” and looking through their naturalThey did not see things from God’s perspective, they were just speculating, and looking through their natural eyes.

So often, even in our zeal to “forgive and forget” (which is a great thing) We fail to understand the Holy Spirit MAY want to use us, to bring some conviction. 

Poor Job did not need help feeling miserable, and yet his friends just added to it. So my question is, if Job can say “You are miserable comforters” (and he was such an upright man) why is it considered so terrible to say the same thing, when someone adds insult to our injury? What is so terible about saying “YOU HURT ME?”

How else will they know? this is what I mean by “taking the mask off” (tell the truth!) stop being a Zombie christian! In some cases you must just “say” what is on your mind. Amen? There was a time I did not. I was intimidated by those “religious ones” who knew the word of God better than I did- so they beat me up! 

FINALLY- I learned the word of God myself and learned to stand

(against the bullies) 

Yes, bless them! (Job did, he prayed for them) but maybe they ought to know what you are praying for, and get just a bit of conviction out of the deal. Yes, forgive them. But in some cases don’t miss the chance to be real (and honest) with people-especially your friends! It just may be they need your mercy, along with some truth. (so they can know what not to do in the future!) Amen! 

Laura Grace 

Author, writer, speaker http://www.gracetotherescue.com