Source: Titus 3:3-7… a passage that captures every Christ follower’s personal testimony!
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Peace!
I was thinking about Peace this morning. If we think about how Jesus said in the beginning “blessed are the peacemakers’ and later on he told the disciples (Apostles) to speak Peace everywhere they went……….and then he said a profound thing: “If they don’t receive you the peace will come back to you.” God intends for us to be at peace with people who do not receive us. Another passage of scripture says if we are righteous “even our enemies’ will be at peace with us.
This is actually a future thing (the Lion laying down with the lamb) and one of those “thy kingdom come” blessings. WE do not have to compromise our beliefs in order to be at Peace with those around us. Whenever I have what I would consider to be an enemy or someone “attacks me” I always pray God will bring peace. It’s the very first thing I pray for. What about you?
Loving myself by Accepting what I cannot change…….a preview from Grace to Grow study Guide coming soon……….by Laura Grace
Common sense Christianity and walking in the Spirit —-what is it?
Have you ever seen a kid throw a tantrum and refuse to go anywhere? I have, and more than one time too. You can pick the child up and make them go; or you can sit down and talk with them and ask them what is going on that they cannot seem to move forward. Common sense Christianity says there are times you need help or you won’t be able to move forward. Legalism says do it or die.
Yes, relationships can be very hard, they seriously can be. One of the first letters Minister Diamond ever wrote me was about accepting what I cannot change. Oh I did not want to hear this. I was so upset and I said: “isn’t that like giving up?” He said no, it’s actually selfish to not accept what you cannot change about a person. Whew! I did not wish to hear this either.
I guess if I am honest; I’ve tried to change a lot of people in my life time. One of the justifications for my doing this actually came from this passage: “Since we know what it is to fear God, we try to persuade men.” (Paraphrased.) It’s so easy to cross the line from testifying to arguing; then go from arguing to debating; after that maybe even a full blown fight. Why? Because deep down we are afraid.
When we believe something strongly and someone else does not (especially a spouse or children) we tend to get all agitated and up in arms. Sometimes it’s justified (we think) because we are trying to save their very lives; which crosses over into “saving their souls.” There is even another passage that suggests if we win souls we are wise, however it didn’t mean getting into a knock-down drag out over the cause.
Let’s get an example going, shall we? My grandchildren are watching movies that I believe are going to hurt them spiritually, let’s say. It’s my personal revelation that these movies could cause them to have nightmares, bad dreams or they may even have a seed planted by the enemy which could wreak havoc in their lives later; all because of these television shows. As their grandma; I am concerned so I pray and feel led to go and “say something’ to the parents; who tell me it’s none of my business, please butt out.
Here’s another example; I have a friend who is drinking so much it’s affecting their finances, their job and their relationships. I’m praying for them; and I’ve even made a suggestion maybe they should examine their ways. The friend also told me this was “none of my business” or got very upset at me.
There is a prayer used in support groups that goes like this: “Lord, help me to accept what I cannot change, courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” This prayer was inspired by a person who wanted to truly help others to mature and grow. The prayer I believe has lost a bit of its luster through the years with all the repetition; but it’s still a very great prayer.
What can we change? We can distance ourselves from a situation that upsets us. We can also pray for that person. We can try to be a great example, we can write a book (like I am doing) and hope they read it. We can worry, fret, cry, wring our hands, pound on the table, have a big fit, tell them how stupid they are; or we can just accept what we cannot change and go pray about it.
I know, it seems like we don’t care if we say nothing, right? Heaven forbid we should become one of those complacent go-with-the-flow type people who never get ruffled up about anything. I am starting to wonder if many people are drawn to the more charismatic type churches just because they equate “on fire’ with “all fired up” about something. As I grow more and as I develop more into God’s ways I find that a lot of things I used to get all upset about just are not worth getting upset about any longer.
Why? Because I couldn’t change it anyway. My blood pressure went up and I was so angry about things sometimes I was not being very kind to myself. What good did I do getting all upset like that?
Let’s try another exercise here. Write down three things that upset you that you wish you could change right now. It can be about the whole world or something in your family or one of your friends.
Now write down how you think you can change it. If you cannot truly think of a way to change it, why not pray about it and just let it go? Examine why you cannot let it go. Ask God to help you with this.
I have had so many things come up in my walk upon this earth that I could not seem to “let go” it isn’t even funny. I know there is a song that plays on the radio at times; it talks about letting go as well. It used to every time I heard that song I would equate “letting go” with “giving up” and I felt like I was a big failure in the kingdom of God if I did not keep fighting and warring against the problem.
I know there is spiritual warfare, but I also know the God who said we should be at peace; be content; be merciful; be forgiving; be loving and be kind; also talked to us about spiritual warfare. Surely he did not intend for us to get out of the spirit of love, kindness, gentleness, self-control and all his other attributes while we are warring in the spirit, right? I mean would he actually say that? I can almost hear him now; “Okay friends, drop the fruit and start the battle!” “Heads will roll today; none of my other words to you applies today we are all going to be “sons of thunder.”
Do you see why Jesus told his disciples when they wanted to call down fire from heaven “they didn’t know” what spirit they were of?
PEACE! How do you get it?
accepting what I cannot change: by Laura Grace I was reading an old letter from “Minister Diamond.”
he used to tell me I need to accept what I cannot change. It made me upset so I said that is like giving up. He said it’s not giving up, it’s wisdom. And he said it’s selfish not to accept what we can’t change…….because if we don’t we are not leaving it up to God what to do about it.
He said also that it’s not faith if we don’t accept (and give it up to God what to do about it). So I started to pray I could accept what I can’t change and change me. I didn’t like “ACCEPTING” But I had to otherwise I’d go crazy.
Make me more Christ like I prayed…..”Make me be what you want Father…..the whole time deliberately ignoring what I could not change.”
This was the real beginning of my Journey…other than I had been convinced I was in the secret place with God, he was not going to leave me……… So what happened is I began to get happier, fruit of the spirit began to emerge in my life…….soon I was growing. I know it seems like such an insignificant secret (accepting) but it’s a lot more powerful than you think it is …….and ……you will be at peace as well. A very nice fringe benefit.
-Laura Grace, author of Grace to Rescue and Grace to Grow.
Did you fail? really? ……..
Nothing ventured…..nothing gained. by Laura Grace. One time I had a booth In this place and sold crafts. The booth cost 40.00 a month and I sold about 38.00 worth of stuff after my investment in materials. This was my first “business venture” besides selling Avon and Tupperware. I had a property manager business for 3 years I went in the red every single year due to the expense of the license I was maintaining.
When I did a business plan for a motel they said at the bank 4…8,000 a year profit was not enough. I was told investors either want a huge return or for less return so they can write it off! I really admire people who own a business.
Until you’ve done it you have no idea the expenses and how often you may wind up “working for free.” So yes I dared to fail- and according the bank book I did, however when we learn something nothing is really lost because acquired knowledge is a treasure in our arsenal for future times.
Not only that I made a lot of friends and was able to pray for a lot of people (and hopefully encourage them) some never knew I prayed for them but God did. So no labor of love is in vain. (EVER!). When we feel like God wants us to do something we can’t afford to look at the results and say “this was a failure” …….Cause so long as you learned something…It was not! I learned to respect business owners #1 and #2 I learned to appreciate a paycheck that may seem small but is more than I had when I had a business. LOL ……Laura Grace……www.facebook.com/gracetoogrow/
and http://www.facebook.com/gracetotherescue/
Laura’s books are available at amazon and her website and on the FB pages.
Common sense Christianity Judge not! what does it mean?
Common sense Christianity Judge not! what does it mean?
Matthew 7
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? …
Words of Jesus. Now to those who don’t know God “repent” means turn from your answers and turn to God who sent his son to die for you and loves you so much. Jesus didn’t run around pointing fingers at people saying what a sinner they are. He was hard on the religious people of that day NOT the sinners. tell me when you saw him going up to a harlot or a tax collector or a drunkard saying “repent you drunken drunkard” He didn’t do it.
Jesus understood the reason people were doing all kinds of things to alleviate their PAIN Is because they did not know him. He wanted people to know him. that’s why he came!
Now in the congregation it’s a different story. If someone says they are a brother and practice certain lifestyles they are to be told first one on one, then with witnesses, then the whole church can deal with the lifestyle in question. The Epistles (letters to the churches) are not to be used on people who do not know God. Did you know this? ………
This is not considered to be judging the person but judging the lifestyle or habitual sin in question. This is done prayerfully of course. Paul was saying to the CHURCH (not to everyone) you have this guy in your church that “slept with” His Father’s wife it was pretty common sense (what should or should not be happening in the church) but we are not called to be sin sniffers, or “gnat strainers” or Looking to find fault with each other all the time.
If someone made a mistake for crying out loud forgive them! If they are sinning in a way that hurts others and makes them stumble and have trouble serving God Deal with it!!
It’s all pretty common sense really………(the bible) and we really are allowed to use our brains. I wish I had known this long ago when I was trying to be so super spiritual that I alienated a lot of people. In My defense I was trying to get closer to God but the thing was he was there the whole time willing to help me.
Sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees (so to speak) he is right there…….he really does care……..and sometimes the answer is right in front of us and we are so suspicious of it. I am still growing and I’ve probably outgrown some of the stuff I used to believe. and that’s okay…..because I am glad I am growing. ❤
Laura Grace, Author, Grace to Grow.
a day of rest: and remember: God is cheering you on!
I just finished a cup of coffee with snicker doodle creamer. boy was it good!
My big plan today was a day off (for me) as I am aware a long time ago the
Lord impressed on me “the reason” I gave a Sabbath is you do need a day
of rest. Long ago when Jobs were on Sunday and the bills had to be paid I
was talking to him about it all (complaining seeking finding) and he said you
do need a day of rest. Make any day your Sabbath and it will be Holy. So I
told myself I was going to have Saturday off but I couldn’t do that; so then I
decided this Saturday would be the day of rest and restoration. Thursday I
had urgent things to do and take care of. My husband fell he is hurting and
coughing causes him great pain, so this morning I made him breakfast and
brought him juice and milk. Like a small child I found myself saying “this is
not fair God this is supposed to be my day off.” Childish, yes it really was.
I wonder if this was what Jesus meant when he asked the Pharisees “don’t
you get an ox out of the ditch on the Sabbath?” See we can understand that
a rule is a rule but what was the rule made for? We really do need to under-
stand the heart behind “God’s rules.” He didn’t make them up to bless himself
he made them to bless US and make things better for US his people whom
he loves so dearly. None of his rules were ever meant to oppress or take away
from life abundant but to help make it happen. He put two people in the garden
of Eden and wanted them delighted, happy, blessed, full of wonder and full of
Joy. (and they were by the way!). When satan came to question God’s good
intentions and goodness that was the beginning of the end (of everything.)
Jesus came to restore us back to a place where the Joy and wonder is restored
to us and we have abundant life! This means a nasty little interruption doesn’t
have to wreck our entire day. We don’t need to feel like we failed because in
the quest to rest we took care of something important. God is not looking for
specks of failure in our day with a red marking pen he is cheering us on! Just
like a parent cheering on their child when they learn to ride a bike or when they
are gaining ground learning to read (or anything else) He is saying “WAY TO GO”
not saying “wow I saw you almost tipped over on your bike TOO BAD you did
not listen to me closer you wouldn’t have “almost fallen.” God is not critical
he is loving and kind. I can promise you He is not. Jesus wept over sin because
he saw it would all end in failure, defeat, heartache, heartbreak and destruction.
If we don’t have a heart to weep over how the error of sin is hurting the person
we probably have no business being all aghast over “their sin.” We should be
like that guy in the book of Eli (the movie) be determined to hang on to what
we believe and the monsters who are trying to take it from us “fight them off”
and keep on going toward your destination. Anyway who wants to know the
treasures of your heart can seek it out and ask. and remember, If you are
on a quest to know him, God is cheering you on! -Laura Grace author of
Grace to the Rescue, Grace to Grow available on Amazon.
Don’t ever be sorry you had Faith: by Laura Grace (you’re growing)
Don’t ever be sorry you had Faith: by Laura Grace (you’re growing)
The smoke finally cleared up in MT the other day and I was SO GLAD! We got rain and some of the fires have been contained and some evacuations were cancelled as well. I attribute it to God and I am still believing for the other fires to go out too across the other states. I was thinking the other day about lepers and how Jesus cleansed the lepers! He was not scared of catching leprosy he just cast it out. Over the years I have wondered how we get to that point (In being like the Son of God) that we can actually believe leprosy has to shrivel up and die in our very presence at the sound of our voice and the laying on of hands.
I don’t believe it’s too far fetched to believe for such things; However we must realize two things I believe. #1 the leper has to believe too (to be cleansed) and #2 we have to grow in our faith towards God along with the other growing we do. How will this happen? Like anything else “HEALING” is a subject we need to learn about (and grow in as well!). We should not grow weary in our training and learning about the things of God should we? We should not give up and despair or say healing must not be for us just because we did not experience the success that Jesus did “right away’ or overnight’. Therefore I continue to practice the art of believing and having Faith and stretch myself as far as I can go……….
Physical therapy is painful but brings ‘restoration” ….how else will we ever be restored to what God intended if we are not willing to stretch ourselves and learn more and grow more (and up in him?) so let’s discard the idea we are crazy to believe for healing or that “God must not have wanted to heal” and all the other excuses we make just because things did not turn out the way we hoped the first time (or the second or the third!). Don’t ever be sorry you had faith. you are stretching, you are growing. Amen ..Father today help us continue to strive to grow up in you more and more and help us to not be weary or lose heart! Thank you that as we apply ourselves to know you more you will give us more! help us not to settle for any less than your highest good for us which is YOUR truth not our own. amen” 
Laura Grace
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