Building #8 What is Integrity?

February 3, 2018February 3, 2018 Laura GraceLeave a comment

INTERGRITY 2

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” Proverbs 10:9 “…In teaching, show integrity” Titus 2:7

What is integrity? It’s doing the right thing when nobody is watching. It’s having a moral compass or having ethics do to things the right way (according to God). The old sin nature it to just “see if we can get away with stuff.”

The best example of integrity toward ourselves I can think of, is the story of the three little pigs. The three little pig story shows us the end result of either cutting corners, taking the easy way, and so on and so forth. What I do not see is the brick building pig having an argument with the other two on “the best way to build.”

He did not have time for it!

In this series, we are talking about building things that will stand the test of fire and flood. Wood, Hay and Stubble they will suffer loss (1 Corn 3:12) so we are not talking about your eternal salvation here, but making wise decisions toward God.

People always want to know (It seems) “What’s in it for me?” Having integrity may not produce instant gratification or results. Like the Three little pig story, you may not “SEE” a house very quickly, when you are doing things one brick at a time. In the end however, you will see a fire proof house.

Integrity produces trust worthy ways in us. It may take a long while, but we will soon see people trust us, believe in us, and would trust us with their very lives, all because we have proven we have integrity.

I am sorry this process (seems) to take so long, but it’s worth it in the end! Proven integrity, and the willingness to walk in righteousness through thick and thin, is necessary to building a house that will stand in the storms. Not only that, if we want to be an effective minister for Jesus, We can’t really help anyone without a solid place to stand. Let them build their house of straw…..(If they want to) it’s not going to stand, so do not worry about it. YOU do the right thing for you! 🙂

I leave you with this thought, as we ponder why so many tell us “hypocrites’ Go to church…….Let’s not be one of them.

Please Father! Fill us with integrity! and the desire to press on, and believe it’s all worthwhile. Amen! Pastor Laura Grace

INTEGRITY

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Relationships! no more drama, not even for your mama! by Laura Grace

October 12, 2017 Laura GraceLeave a comment

Relationships! Introduction: By Laura Grace Should I give up, shut up, put up my dukes?

Relationships are one of the hardest things we will ever contend with in this life. Frankly Not a subject I have wanted to contend with OR address. Even in my book Grace to Grow, I talked about it being hard. but I didn’t say a whole lot about it. That’s because it’s not cut and dry. Every relationship is different. There are variations (Within) and while we all know there are basic principles in the word of God how do we know Which Principle to apply?

I’m going to address hard truths, talk about real situations, and share with you what God
has taught me thus far about relationships……..

What about giving up? Did I fail that person? How do I know? How do I get closure when they won’t talk to me anymore?

How do I love them- yet avoid the drama? AS we begin……Let’s Ponder Matthew in chapter 5 where Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers” …….(Matthew 5:9) and
explore how we make peace (in various ways) as we are BECOMING children of God.

Yes, I said becoming. (You’re being formed and shaped here, into his image!) Amen

“Father please, be with me as I do this series and I know you will be. Allow me to share from your heart to theirs “what works” and what does not work! For you already know! and you know all the persons out there who wonder about how you said make peace but yet you said at times there will be no peace in certain relationships…..

Give us understanding we pray (Father) In Jesus’ name. and we thank you for it too.

I ask you Father help us to undertand your word better, and how to apply it in everyday life! IN Jesus’ name! -amen

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

May 28, 2017May 28, 2017 Laura GraceLeave a comment

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