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Building #8 What is Integrity?

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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Once upon a time there was a girl….

Once upon a time there was this girl. She 30. She had two small children and a typewriter but she couldn’t afford any ink. God spoke to her and told her she would write a book someday.

She told her pastor he said “you need to know what kind of book”. She prayed about that too, and asked God, but did not receive a reply.Over 20 years later- when her kids were grown, she wrote her book while having two jobs and a busy life as Total domestic support to her husband.

She wrote an hour here, and an hour there, praying the whole time.

She submitted every page of it to two different ministers making herself accountable and opening up herself for critique.

That Girl is me, and the book is Grace to the Rescue.

It’s been republished 3 times now, the last time my friend spent hours re doing the cover. This is due to faulty publishing and typing errors (for which she received much criticism).

The book has been edited and prayed over again. She has not given up!

It’s a testimony of Grace more powerful than most can imagine. It’s a story of redemption, tenacity, faith, and hanging in there when the odds are against you……..

It’s a book about how GOD IS THERE no matter what through thick and thin. He provides, he does miracles, he sees you through when you refuse to give up on him helping.

LIke Jacob she hung on. Like the prodigal, she came home. Like Abraham she believed for a city that is of God. Like Joshua, she took the land, and like the women of faith she took the job of motherhood to be the highest calling on earth…….

And she fought the fight of faith along with her friends who love God too, and she prevailed in Him. She read the entire bible! She knows who the heroes of Faith are, and she strove to become like them.

Now I am highly honored that one of those ministers is featuring me on her page (Eagles Way Ministries) a woman who has stood in Faith with God for many years now, spending most of her free time in fasting, prayer and Study. And why does she do this, you may ask?

For the sole purpose of Doing God’s will For her life. For you see, she is in covenant with him, and so is her ministry partner, and so am I ……and Hopefully……so are you.

Yes I had to get divorced. It was not a union that was meant to be. It was destroying me. That is not God’s will for a person’s life. I moved over 20 times ad gave up everything to save this marraige. It was impossible. Irretrievably broken.

I had a woman in Wisconsin tell me she couldn’t put the book down it’s the only book she ever read besides her bible. I had others (Trish, Lorna, Lori, Jan and many others) Tell me what a great book it is. Leza edited it the very first time. Missy has been a huge support and cheerleader to me as well.

Thomas came to every book signing! I’ve actually had a lot of love and support but sometimes it’s easier to see the attacks when they are vehemently against you than all the love and support you’ve had.

Maybe I didn’t say how bad the suffering was or really get across Why I had to leave him….

But I had to. My children needed me to. They had to see me press on for better, and that abundant life God promised me. Otherwise, who would show them the way?

Sitting and being abused by your spouse is not a good path for your children to follow. So all naysayers out there, I don’t care what you think anymore. I’ve been free from that horrendous abuse for 16 years this year The same amount of years I suffered under it.

Let me tell you something; If you stand up to abuse maybe it will SAVE YOUR MARRAIGE! In my case it didn’t. Either way you shouldn’t Take abuse day after day and tell your children that’s God’s will for your life.

Not good. If you ever see YOUR child suffer abuse you won’t be so quick to say I should have stayed and took it forever. God’s word was never meant to be something that keeps us in a cage. Do you tell children if their parents abuse them “Obey them?” NO YOU get them out! why are people so scared of books about deliverance from a bad marraige? They are afraid it will cause everyone to “Run to sin” of divorce. That’s just silly.

I”ve been on this wall every day now proving to everyone I love God and how I”ve grown and AM growing. I wrote this book before they started having abuse stories on focus on the family. I had people act like I had the plague because I wrote it. It was painful but I am over it now. I will never apologize for my book again. I must admit for a time, since I’ve had more come at me pointing fingers and trying to make me ashamed than anything else, I did have regrets. Nobody has any idea how hard it’s been to keep my faith Going to BELIEVE I did what God told me to do. I will be justified in the end.

Thank you Lord for the support of Friends, true friends who have prayed for me through all of this. Love you friends!

Laura Grace and thank you Ministers Stace and Kay for your support al these years and for this honor:

http://eaglesway.org/links/laura-grace/  

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Building with Precious things (Continued)

POOR FROM DUST.jpg

I’m going to tell you why I posted this. I used to live in housing projects. We suffered years of poverty I still have the records. Living on 8,000 a year or less even 6,000 a year (a family of four) and I used to quote this scripture “He raises the Poor from the Dust” …….(Psalm 113) 
 
And I’d say “AND IT”S TRUE FATHER” I believe you! Years later, things have really changed for me, and they have. 
Every time I have plenty of toilet paper, I am thankful. And, When the bills are paid, and I don’t get shut off notices I say THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU…..experiences like that you never forget all your life! Ask those who went through the great depression……..They just never forget what it was like 🙂
 
I can talk about building on the rock with Precious things, because I had the storms that took everything (and I barely escaped) and finally I got tired of it and said; “change me change me change me” ….people bailing you out will never change things. 
The change must happen from within! We need Soul healing and restoration! We need God to CHANGE US to think LIKE HIM!
 
Amen? 🙏🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
 
The Loving kindness of God WILL LEAD someone to repentance if they have a heart after God in the first place such as “They want to know (the truth). Others will take and take and get mad at him when he wants them to learn and grow up and sometimes Will Basically tell God Where to stuff it and walk away….
 
If you read the book of Revelation, some will NEVER repent. They will curse God no matter what (and blame him for all disasters). I know a lot of people think I don’t understand love but I do. I will walk with someone to the end of the earth If they are just struggling to understand God. If they don’t care, and spit on him, and want nothing to do wtih Him, I’m gonna work with those whose hearts are crying out to him. I wasted so much time on those who did not care (to know) the truths that can make them free. No more! It’s called Co dependency or it could be called strengthening the hands of evil doers. (Bad idea!)
 
God’s going to have a church that speaks the truth once again, not molly coddling those who want nothing to do with Him. The excuses have to stop, And God will show and reveal “who is who” and what is what.
WE NEED God’s Wisdom! WE NEED His input! This is not a game.
 
Those who “poo poo” on all this will have the outcome of their (Own) ways. and last thing: Don’t Worship Angels or anyone but God. They are simply fellow servants with you. #worshipGodonly #blazingglory #choosingGodoverothers
 
“Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he [stopped me and] said to me, “You must not do that; I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who have and hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God [alone]. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy [His life and teaching are the heart of prophecy].” Revelation 19:10 (When John saw an Angel)
Peace and blessings! Laura Grace 
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Relationship #2 No Drama “YOU” are you who you want to be?

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