Hi Friends, so last Wed, I was on auto pilot and getting ready for work, doing dishes, taking care of business and put this little pork roast in the pot, covering it with seasoning and got it cooking.
Before I left for work, I prayed something I have not prayed in a long time. “Father I ask you, Order my steps today” and quoted how a righteous man or woman’s steps are ordered of the Lord.”
I was very sincere about it, and fully expected all of my decisions to be “of God” as I was realizing I was over-thinking things.
At 3:30 I thought “I need something for dinner” and ordered a pizza from the cafe, picked it up and brought it home after work! As I was getting in my car I realized “Why did you do that? You have a roast cooking at home”
I was embarrassed, but my husband said “No big deal” we’ll have roast tomorrow! So I took the toppings off my part of the pizza, put it on sourdough toast, and we had ‘PIzza night” …..
I SO Enjoyed that pizza, and cut up the small roast, turning it into two different meals for the next two nights ahead. This is a classic case of what often happens when we follow after God. It will appear “illogical” and mess with our human brain, and the bible clearly says “The natural man cannot receive the things of God.” 1 Corn 2:14
I was blessed by the Pizza, I had much Joy, and all is well, the roast was not wasted. But I gotta tell you, for a “split second” I thought I messed up! Thank God I didn’t trip and fall over the devil’s accusation that I was silly for ordering that pizza!! Love you!! -Laura
I am thinking about the word “Objective” today which has been on my mind since yesterday! It means to look at things without personal opinions or personal feelings, so then if you said someone was “ugly” That may not be another person’s view, which makes your comment “subjective.”
To take things further, I can see times in my life my view was not “OBJECTIVE” which is when our view is based on Facts and “Measurable Data”.
I have some measurable Data (facts) but I don’t have ALL of them yet. And neither do you. We are all still learning and (hopefully) growing. If we get stuck in our opinions we no longer grow.
Why am I talking about this? I may not be a big name minister with a full 6 year degree in Theology, but I am still responsible as a person to take a look at myself and think, “Am I being fair in my views about things? “Am I being objective?” If you have personal Testimonies as proof of what you are saying, it’s objective. If you are just quoting scripture with no real experience in applying it and seeing it work in your life, you may be just saying “your Opinion”
I’ve noticed people don’t respond well to “being preached at” if you haven’t actually lived out what you are saying in rough times. Your Testimony becomes “evidence” that what you say is true.
I am thinking back to a situation where I was called into question by someone and got defensive. I began to defend myself (feeling attacked) and therefore my responses were not “Objective” they were based on how that person made me feel (at the time). Usually when people decide they need counselling, it’s because they are going round and round (both people feeling defensive) and they need this “Objective Person” to step in and help guide them.
Just remember we can be objective one minute, and find that we have “Feelings’ Influencing us he next minute! Nobody is perfect!
It seems like a hard walk sometimes, rising up to be confident and gathering all kinds of information to help us make informed decisions or even guide someone else through some turbulent waters. But right in the middle of it, you might find yourself having feelings or opinions that “trip you up” and cause you to give advice that is not Objective (or sound). Staying humble is the key.
That’s when we need to back off and say “I don’t know the answer” but i will pray for you!!” Too often, we are all subject to becoming “Know it alls” just because we know a lot!! But it doesn’t mean we know EVERYTHING and every human being is capable of letting personal opinion “blind us” to what is the truth if we are not careful and prayerful about things. My Sunday rant for today! -Laura
I’ve been praying a lot and doing a bible study called “changing your reality” by Wendy Backlund It’s good!
The last challenge is the power of your imagination, which, my friend, John, has mentioned to me a couple of times. I would hear that word “imagination” and wasn’t sure God was okay with it! But it literally means to dream with God. You know, before I decorated my Christmas tree this year, I sat and “imagined” what it would look like before I began to place the ornaments.
Now, have you ever noticed when you “imagine” a certain outcome with people, it almost never goes the way you imagined? LOL This is because of free will! You can’t change them, Just you!!! You and God are a majority! Others may follow. 🙂
If you imagine YOURSELF attaining certain goals, did your know your imagination is more powerful than your ability to just weather through because someone said you had to? It’s a proven fact what you dream about affects your ability to achieve it!
You “see” how your house will look clean, you “SEE” what a day looks like if you decide to be grateful all day, you SEE yourself OVERCOMING some obstacle. YOU SEE yourself getting that task done that looks like a mountain right now.
You don’t just speak something, you also SEE the obstacle (or mountain) being leveled! Can you see it with me?
Incidentally, I was a very shy person who used to visibly SHAKE when I would stand in front of people. I had to visualize myself speaking to large groups (AND PRAY) In order to achieve that. It was a walk of faith for me! What we dream, we can become!!!
The Church did not do anyone any favors, if they failed to define what Love (according to God) actually is. I was talking to a friend the other day, who said the great falling away seems to be happening. In just a moments’ time it hit me, the false teachings about love have a great deal to do with this.
Years ago, God was showing me (as I studied and prayed) that love according to him is “Not a Hallmark Card.” Every time I was facing a liar, a person who did not care what God thought, or a person who was in anarchy, defying the very words of God, I was told by church people that love was the answer. But you see, an in-depth studyof the bible, showed me that most of the love scriptures we hear (Love one another, love your neighbor as yourself) are talking about how we should love the brethren. That is, the people of God.
I noticed the revelation came to me over a period of time, and continued to talk to people about how God did not tell them to take abuse and show love to ridiculously ungodly people, but in some cases, we need to rebuke them, tell the devil to flee from them, and yes, even avoid certain persons. As I would quote the book of Jude and talk about such things, many people pulled back from me, believing I was off in my thinking. But now, as I see how the enemy is using Love AGAINST God’s people (not his kind of Love, but the Hallmark Kind) I can really see how he’s using this to try to take down the church.
Tolerance is not love. If someone is sinning and loves to sin, and does not wish to hear about Jesus, they have a right to walk away from you. Honestly, if they are not seeking him, chasing them down like a gazelle and trying to “rope them” into salvation is not a wise idea.
But when something infiltrates your church, you are responsible to chase it out. And I am talking about doctrines that say it’s okay to be in sin, to be sexually immoral, same sex relationships, bi-sexual relationships, and the list goes on. The Grace we apply for someone to grow into a full-grown Christian happens WHEN That person has given their lives to Jesus. And if they have done so, they are not going to be arguing about what is sin and what isn’t. Yes, people are supposed to be “under law” until they surrender and give their lives to Jesus. God’s laws are there to convict them. Please don’t take that away by making excuses for sin.
Therefore, I understand you want to be kind to people. I understand they don’t THINK they can help how they are. I once thought I was an alcoholic,could not stop drinking, that I could not stop being co-dependent, could not control my temper because it was right there (being a thing I both learned and inherited) BUT God calls us to overcome and BECOME all he ever desired for us to be. We start making excuses, we take away the power of the gospel, and become the people described in 2 Timothy 3. Lovers of selves, haughty, Proud of how much they love, proud of how strong they are standing up against the likes of us, blasphemous, unholy, and denying the power of God to change us.
Is anyone out there listening to me? What did the early disciples do? (After they became Apostles and Prophets and such?) They went around saying “REPENT!” They cast out devils. They did not endorse ANYONE staying the way they were. People flocking to salvation had nothing to do with being accepted HOW YOU ARE it was about BECOMING what God said you can be (IN HIM!)
We don’t need to do a rain dance all night and cast out a list of 20 devils to stop the great falling away. All we have to do is preach the TRUTH because God’s love envelopes truth and does not deny the truth of the gospel. IF we Allow anyone to alter what the bible says, it will become ineffective, USELESS with no power to change anyone’s lives and be redeemed from their sin. Now, someone was praying not to be deceived. And this is exactly what you needed to hear. -Laura Grace
In this video I talk about why breaking tradition is sometimes necessary, but how I have in the past been overly zealous, not explaining why it needs to be done. This video is eye opening and helpful to those who find themselves wondering how to view traditional churches verses contemporary churches. I hope you are blessed. -Laura
Matthew (7:12): “In everything, do unto others as you would have done unto you……”
……I want to be candid here. I have lived 62 years, and I find this passage doesn’t always work so well IF I treat it as a stand-alone scripture. My Mom taught me this one when I was very young. “It’s the Golden Rule” she said to me.
Throughout my life (and I took it seriously) I have brought people gifts because I really love to receive gifts for no reason! My Own mom for a long time said “You should save for Christmas or birthdays, why are you giving me a gift for no reason? Or at times, she did not like the gift. She wished I hadn’t “wasted my money” on this or that.
People whose love language is getting help will offer “Help” but then you run into someone like me, who had to always do it alone and is not comfortable with giving directions on HOW to help. We who always did it ourselves (and got used to it) don’t mean to reject your offer, it’s just we don’t know how to “not do it alone.”
I’ve had times I hit the nail on the head with a gift, while other times someone felt like “they had to return the favor” and wished I had not given them a gift at all! I’ve offered hugs to people who don’t want one. I’m sure others I failed to hug because that’s what they truly needed! The verse “Do unto others as you would have done unto you” does not work all by itself. Why? Because everyone has different expectations and needs. We are different.
A piece of advice that helps one person might offend another. “What do you think I’m stupid?” (is how they may feel!!). It takes a brave person to go out and “TRY AGAIN” when you have heard all the time how much you have failed to “hit the mark” On doing for others (the right thing at the right time!!).
But there is another thing my mom said to me, “it’s the thought that counts.” When I was a kid, and I was sad because I got a puzzle (and I don’t like puzzles) she said, “Just think they thought of you.” “They took the time to wrap it” and she would make me sit down and write a thank you card.
Growing up is hard. Especially in relationships. My prayer life and asking God “What do they need?” “What do I say?” “Please guide me” comes from the pain and heartache of failing.
Honestly, if I hadn’t failed, I probably wouldn’t have turned into this crazy Christian that prays about EVERYTHING. And still, even at that, I make mistakes. I don’t always hit the mark. I always don’t say the right thing at the right time (or get the right gifts!!). But my heart really is set on being a blessing (everywhere I go). I guess if I had one wish it would be “Please see my heart.”
We are all (hopefully) Growing up TOWARD the head which is Jesus…….Let’s not be so hard on each other. Let’s just cheer each other on. -Laura
Ecclesiastes 7:18-20 “…..a man who fears God will avoid all extremes”
Wow. This says a mouthful. I’ve been observing and thinking about extremes lately. It’s in politics. People are extreme about sharing their opinions, (invited or not). Extremely liberal. Extremely Conservative.
Years ago, the Lord literally arrested me with the passage of scripture above. He let me know, I was being extreme at the time. We were denied ice cream as a kid, so we get obsessed with ice cream. Or fun. Or money. Whatever we didn’t have, that’s what we tend to crave the most.
I see it in the church too. We were denied spiritual gifts, so that’s all we think about. In my case, I went through a time I did not cherish the old hymns as I should have, simply because I was afraid of being stuck there, and not experiencing all God had for me. I got extreme.
I was extreme about spiritual warfare at one time, and pretty much thought everything bad was the devil. Truth be told, everything bad or twisted DID originate from him. But whether (the enemy) shot a flaming lie in to our minds which has to be extinguished (Ephesians 4) or whether he planted a bad seed that grew into a giant weed (Matthew 13), depends on the particular situation. We need to see and discern.
As people shout from the housetops what they believe we need to think, it’s a cultivated and deliberate process to continue asking God what to think. “Give us your viewpoint Father, for we truly want to know!”
Those who do this are walking a lonely road, off by themselves somewhere. While the rest of the world shouts and argues, they are quietly reflecting on what the bible says, while simultaneously asking the Holy Spirit to help them apply those words in a truly effective way. A heart set on growing, is a heart set on God.
Please pray with me: “Father, in Jesus’ name, please forgive me of extreme thinking. Show me the areas where I have been extreme. Brace me for your loving correction. Help me stay humble. I want to learn.”
Amen Minister of the Lord and his servant, Laura Grace
Hi everyone! Today I am sharing a video I did with My husband, Tim. We’ve been married 21 years, and he’s been the strength and covering behind this ministry, so I am honored to have him with me today. I am doing videos and writing a book “Out of the Box” Sermons for laypeople and house churches.
Because of my husband, (and God in him) I have the faith to say what I do. And to step out and use my gifts for God’s glory. I am a regular person like you, dishes to do, bills to pay, job to attend. I work as a Librarian.
Please bear with me as I point out these videos, there will be more blog posts to come! (Promise) so Please don’t give up on me. I think of Jesus saying, “You won’t see me again, until you say blessed is he who comes, in the name of the Lord!” You don’t all know the trials I go through with feeling irrelevant, outcast, ignored!
And that is not said to generate sympathy, but for you to know I am a person like you, who suffers the human condition on a daily basis (and all that goes with it). Nevertheless, I have this treasure in a jar of clay, “JESUS!!” And the great things he has taught me/us by his grace! With Love to you all! Laura
I am posting a video today (of a series I’ve been doing) but I will start writing you some sermons as well about “the Giant of Religion.” It really is a giant and it has to fall!
Proverbs 22: “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.”
I will never forget the day I made a stance to discipline my child, and how the enemy came against me. I had been praying and reading the above passage, and even though I thought my daughter was adorable, I was beginning to understand the importance of discipline.
I was from a household where authority had been unjust at times and was afraid of doing the same thing. For that reason, I’d been a little paralyzed concerning discipline.
I was praying like this:
“Father, I know discipline is love, so please help me love my children your way, and discipline them when it’s necessary.”
I had just come out of the grocery store and was loading groceries into my trunk. My daughter, age 5, wanted to help, and went to grab the gallon jug of red juice out of the cart for me. I knew she was too young to successfully navigate the jug, so I said, “No honey, wait a minute.”
My plan was to let her unload something smaller, but she was not having it.
As I placed a bag in the trunk, she suddenly appeared with the jug, and slammed it down into the trunk in a moment of defiance. The jug was punctured by a metal object (Probably the jack), and juice went all over the trunk, onto the paper bags, and caused a lot of grocery chaos.
“I told you no!” I said in my loud mommy voice.
Within a fraction of a minute, a woman came out of nowhere and said,
“Ma’am, it’s not a big deal, you can go buy another bottle of juice.”
I wasn’t spanking her, but I was having a moment with her to reinforce what I said.
The woman continued to talk at me and even offered to buy more juice.
I remember for about a week after this incident, I struggled with whether I was too harsh. And why? Because the enemy sent someone to question my parenting, just when I had decided to follow the Lords’ ways. In 1 Peter 5:8 we are told to be sober and vigilant, as the enemy prowls around, looking for whom he can devour. And what is it he wants to devour most? (You ask?).
The seed of God’s word is his first target. If He can take that from you, your life will never be effective for Christ. I suggest reading Matthew 13, and the passage on seeds and sowing for further reference and contemplation, with the Holy Spirit at your side.
Here is food for thought: God’s ways are always going to go against the current of modern society.
-Laura
It’s good!
gracetogrowdaily 