ABIDE: (It’s where you live that counts!). by Laura Grace
Many people do not understand or even care to understand what Jesus meant when he said to ABIDE in Him. This is not a place we visit, it’s a place where we live.
“Moving in” with Jesus is a process, whereby we may have to get rid of a lot JUNK He doesn’t approve of (in our lives).
This is all between “Us and Him” and it’s not for others to decide. Listen: THIS IS what religion can do to you: if you are caught up in relgious rules, christian cliche’s, man’s doctrines, the latest bible study that everyone is flocking after or (anything else) that is not about your personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then; chances are you are not Abiding IN HIM…………
YOUR Relationship with God is NOT WORTH compromising for anyone my friends. In the end, you will stand before HIm not “all these other people” with their 2 cents worth of input. He has eyes that Blaze with Fire and He is going to ask you so….”What did I say to do?”
We will be undone by the sword in his tongue. This is what it means to be on fire for God: Do what HE is telling you today. He promises to make his will known to you, But we have to participate in teh asking, seeking and finding out WHAT He wants us to do.
He may tell you to go preach and he may say “go home” and he may say “go sweep the sidewalk today.” ……….This is not a game! Our Relationship with Jesus is more serious than any marital relationship or anything else upon this earth. Therefore I plead with you “Be reconciled to Him” GO HOME (to his heart) and LIVE THERE….in Jesus’ name.
.”Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abidein you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”…. John 15:4-7 NASB
By Laura Grace, Author, Grace to Grow, Dysfunctional People, and others……(available on Amazon).
“You Saw Me” (by Laura Grace) this really happened today. In order to get through to the end of the month I needed to go to walmart for some things that were a lot cheaper there but I could not go until today and I knew it was the 1st Plus the weekend before the 4th. I left at 7:50 this morning to beat the huge crowds and had a list for me and for my mom. Anyway so I was driving and said to the Lord “I wish I could see you in real life” and this was among many other prayers while listening to christian music.
I know when he speaks to me and it’s in my heart from down within. It’s the same voice that echoed through the chambers of my heart and told me he loved me years ago when I was a broken mess. He said “You have seen me.’ “Every time someone preached a sermon that really helped you understand me, every time someone sang a song that moved your soul closer to me, every time someone gave you a gift at the right time, or hugged you and you truly felt my Love because they were in the spirit and you knew it…….every time someone called right at the right time or showed up right when you felt alone and cried out to me… Everytime you knew someone was sent by me……..
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.
He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112:7
What do you think (or say) when you hear “bad news?”
A Faith Person does not just stick their head in the sand
They are not “unrealistic.”
They don’t deny what is…….
They just deny it’s right to stay.
If an enemy comes up to you and says “I”m going to beat the stuffing out of you,” You are either going to tremble and prepare yourself for a beating ….Or, you are going to think quickly what you can use for a weapon to fight him off.
Maybe you’ll shout “DAD” “Dad, Dad DADDDY ” Or, kick him in the solar Plexis. You’ll either submit to God and fight (in faith) or you will wave the white flag and accept defeat.
It starts out with a bad report: (Your account is over drawn, you lost your job, your health is at risk) and then it goes to thoughts of “You” being homeless, dead, bankrupt, and broken.)
“You will not be put to Shame,” (Isaiah 54 shouts.)
“You will not be disgraced!” (the Prophet speaks further)
Now you have a choice. Believe that, or believe you are doomed.
In 2 Corinthians 6, after saying light should not agree with darkness, and not to consult with idols, says to not touch what is unclean, nor agree with Unbelievers.
“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
“I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corn 6:17-18) NKJV
Prior to this, what is unclean is described to us. We are not to agree with idols, or be unequally yoked (with unbelievers). It says: You are the temple (And should not fellowship with darkness, and lawless persons) hmm …..
Something to ponder, and meditate on, right?
Fighting the Faith of Faith, along with you, dear Brethren,
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall lovetheLord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind ” Luke 10:27
Exodus 20:3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.“
Is God really first in your life? The first one you run to? The first one you listen to?
God had a lot to say in the Old Testemant about “other lovers” which meant: Others that people beleived in Over Himself. God said something pretty stern in Isaiah 57:13:
“When you cry out, Let your collectionofidols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away, A breath will take them. But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, And shall inherit My holy mountain.” “Thou Shalt have no other godsbefore me……..” What does it mean?
God wants to be like our husband. #1, Uno. Forsaking all others (because of him, and his importance to us). Thus we have the passage in John 1:12 (I like the KJV) as it says “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”
He’s our Shepherd. He’s our husband as well, and he doesn’t take kindly to us trusting in others more than we trust in him. Convicting? Yes, it certainly is.
He’s not “on our case” he is trying to help us. He wants us to be able to resist the devil, and cast down the accuser (of the brethren) but cannot do it unless we do it GOD”S WAY. He set things up that way! (and he’s not going to change it because it makes you uncomfortable, either).
“repent” (means) toturn awayfrom allothers you have trusted in,besides Him.Whenwe come through the fire, it means all that we have trusted in (that is not of him) has been consumed. He’s a consuming fire, and wants to burn up the (fleshly) ways we have BECAUSE there is no other way to become (his sons) who are like him in how he thinks, how he walks, how he talks, and what HE believes in.
We can’t defeat the devil when we are unsurrendered to God (James 4:7) And submission does not mean “Okay Father I guess you want me sick, poor or defeated” It means“I submit Father, to handling my entire life YOUR way!” My entire life “I give to you Father” (My husband, my friend) for you are worthy to be trusted with it all!
Now “If there is any way in me” that seems unrighteous to you Father Deal with me!! correct me! chastize me!”(amen)I give my heart soul mind and body to you Father in Jesus’ name (amen)!
Now …..Now you are ready to resist (the enemy of your souls) however God says to do it! Worship! Praise! Rebuke the devil! anoint someone!MaybeGod will have you say to a total unbeliever “God is healing me!!!” (in the face of their unbelief) There are no formula’s…...(only Jesus)
“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”Luke 10:19
Fear is a liar and it walks right behind worry. I don’t believe we need another scripture about fear. We know God says “not to fear” but we also know that our bodies do not listen to us, and sometimes, neither do our minds.
Fear is a liar because it only tells you the circumstance and what has happened to others in this same situation. Fear will never tell you God’s word, or his promise to YOU. When YOU beleive God’s promise you activate heaven to act on your behalf. That’s the truth.
When a huge storm is threatening to take my house down, and I can hear it blowing so hard it’s uprooting trees, yes it’s pretty hard to not fear. Or if someone has a life threatening illness, or if someone is crazy on drugs raging at you threatening to hurt you. WE have built in responses to fear and we cannot (seem) to help that.
Not without valium! So deal with worry first (when it’s small) and don’t just nurture the worry or feed it or add to it or meditate on it! Start fighting this stuff off before it’s full blown! (You’ll be glad you did).
Therefore, God is not unkind when he speaks to a person DO NOT FEAR (With HIS Voice of LOVE) it will settle you down. Why/ Because it’s filled with Love! (that truly casts out fear) See because He IS LOVE so when he speaks, your heart is settled down. Giving people a lecture is not enough either.
This is why quoting scriptures is not enough.
Jesus is enough. Only Jesus. And we need to know Him. I distinctly heard him one time tell me “Do not fear” before I drove into fog so thick, I could not see the road. Because he spoke to me, I knew I did not have to panic, or pull off to the side of the road. He let me know he was going to get me through it.
Prior to this, I was seeking to know him. “talk to me” I said, be my best friend! “the sheep know your voice” (I would say) see, you can’t know what to ask God for without at least trying to know his word recorded in this precious thing called;
OUR BIBLE! And he’s the one that helps you understand it so don’t let those overly-educated pious ones tell you any different! HE SAiD (Jesus)
John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
I did not say this, Jesus did! So if a great (and worthy) bible teacher is not available or you work Sunday’s at the gas station every week just know this, The Holy Spirit can and will teach you! Believe me! Believe him! Let God be more real to you than anything else in this world! And Father we pray…..that your perfect love and your words would eliminate all of our fears! One by one until it’s done! In Jesus’ name! Amen!
Hi, Laura Grace here. I wish I could make this page “come alive to you” as I share what’s on my heart today. You know, I was raised Lutheran, studied the catechism to be confirmed (meaning I understood God’s word well enough to partake of the cup and the bread) but you know what? I didn’t know the Lord even after all that. I knew scriptures, but I did not know God. Oh, they are one in the same you say?
Who brings the word alive?Who causes it to become Living water to your soul? Jesus, that’s who! And how can we do that if we never let him in? “Okay Lord, I believe in you,” Many say, as they go on their way. Yes, THEIR WAY. And that’s what I did, for a long, long time. I went to a little Pentecostal church one day because I was feeling empty inside. They sang praises to Jesus, and clapped their hands. “PRAISE THE LORD!” I heard them shout. oh wow, I was amazed by this! What a sight to see!
Alas, I found out they didn’t think I was saved, because they prayed I would speak in tongues, but it didn’t happen when they thought it should. Want to know why? I wasn’t even SAVED YET! Which leads to the next portion of my mutt story, I DO BELIEVE we must be Born Again to SEE the kingdom of GOD TO SEE IT TO LIVE IN IT AND TO WALK IN IT. Maybe some get Born again without realizing it? I mean, don’t babies get born sometimes at home? Or did anyone tell them “Hey by the way did you know you were actually born? You didn’t just arrive here from a stork some magical day?”
See, there are so many things we experience, but never understand. God wants us to understand what has happened to us! He wants us to know where we are at with him, where we stand, and what he thinks about it all. He’s our Father! And yes, he wants you to know! But so long as we treat him as this distant unapproachable scary God (as in MT Sinai and a mountain burning with Smoke) we will never experience the new Zion, angels rejoicing, celebration experience He so desires for us. For a Christian, words like “Born Again” should not scare us. We should love and want to understand the WHOLE bible, should we not?
Hey, I understand many are not comfortable with speaking in tongues, jumping around dancing, or worshipping with their hands lifted high in Praise to Jesus. I do. But I want to tell you, opening my mind and heart to my other brothers and sisters in Christ and their experiences, has surely enriched my life beyond my wildest imagination. I believe, like the Baptists, that being Born Again is important. I do believe we should consider and ask God about the bread and the cup and not be careless about it. I think we should be Spirit Filled too.
We THE BRETHREN (the ones that we are asked to Love) Must learn to at least try and like each other! (And move on to Love from there?) seriously! And do I ever go up to my dog and say “why aren’t you a doberman?” Why aren’t you a poodle? What’s wrong with you?” We are all just (gentile dogs) saved by Grace. Unless you are a Jew (the first people God went to) and you know why He did that? I beleive it’s because of Abraham! But that’s another story……..
I think we should open our hearts to consider Mark 16, and the idea of casting out demons, laying hands on the sick, and believing for them to recover. I think there should be order in the service and we should sing all kinds of hymns, and spiritual songs. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to bring myself to label myself with a certain denomination ever again. I have to face what Jesus has made me,
“I’m a mutt.” And I know He loves me, just as I am. If I can love my dog (who is also a mutt) how much MORE Does God rejoice when I come running to him, my face full of Joy, so happy to be His! Yep I’m a mutt. And I’m okay with it. Yes that’s me, a gentile dog, saved by his grace…..and I am so thankful! -Laura Grace
PS There is more to this story (born again, Spirit Filled, testimonies, ) in My book Grace to The Rescue. Available on Kindle (Amazon) and soon to be re-released.
Mark 7: 25 For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
28 And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.”
29 Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”
30 And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed. Hey wait a minute! didn’t he “cast out the demon?” No in this case –her faith caused the deliverance! hmm……”Don’t put God in a box” ….
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. 
gracetogrowdaily 