When you’re taking a trip…..(A very important message about the road to heaven. )

December 8, 2017 Laura GraceLeave a comment

We live in the knowledge age. Everyone wants to discuss what we should or should not be doing, and more importantly, what others should or should not be doing. Without a doubt it’s the most philisophical, debatable, and argumentive age we’ve ever seen.

When I’m taking a trip, i hope I will plan (how much it will cost) and is there air in my tires? Do I have all the necessities for my journey? What route will I take? Where am I going to stay along the way, and when I get there? We all know if we don’t plan, it’s likely we could end up by the side of the road, sleeping in the car (or something) and then there is the big question: “Why am I even taking this trip?”

Once we know that (and our passion for the trip is established) we might begin sharing with others what we are doing, where we are going, and why.

I’ve encountered so much advice along the way, and I know people are trying to be helpful. “Take water and tools” they may say “in case you break down.” “Pray first” Or maybe they’ll say “You can’t afford that trip.” (How do they know?) or maybe they will share their trip, what they did, and how it was a much better trip than you are taking!

It doesn’t matter, because if you only got one shot at your dream trip, would you let anyone take it from you? Would you let them waylay you, stop you, thwart you, or waste so much of your time you never even get there? I don’t think so!

Funny how we would take something like a “road trip” so seriously and not ponder where we are going for all eternity. (and who we will see when we get there!)

I”m sorry, I can’t allow you to take me off course! I have a dream about doing things God’s way, learning from Him, Following Him and having him say to me when I get there “Well done” “Enter in” “Glad to see you my son (daughter). He gave me the route, the plan, and he has helped me to count the cost. I don’t have time to argue about it or debate with you about whether my plan is good or bad (according to you). My Father from heaven has spoken, and I must be on my way.

Laura Grace John 4:34 “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work”

a word for God's church · abidinginthevine · Isaiah 55 · not being rushed · patience in God's spirit · Serving Jesus · sonsofgod · taking your time in Jesus · trusting god · trustinggod · Uncategorized · victoriousinChrist · victoriouswithChrist · walking in the spirit · walkinthespirit · what being a christian means to me

What does it mean to be “Spirit Led?”

August 9, 2017 Laura GraceLeave a comment

Romans 8:14 “For as many that are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.”

What does it mean to be Led by the Spirit of God?

Well, I will tell you (in my own experience).

It means our hearts are led (drawn) toward doing a certain thing at a certain time. It means we are not ruled by our natural senses, nor are we provoked by fear (prodding).

Now, idealy, if we see something on fire, we rush to put it out. We see our child running into the street, (and a car is coming) we will shout NO Or rush to grab them. This is not what I am talking about.

I am talking about decisions being spirit-led vs being provoked or rushed by fear.

I well remember many instances in my life, power about to be shut off (shut off notice) Rent due and not having the money, tires on my car so bad the wires were showing.

School was starting, we didn’t have backpacks or school clothes yet, and even worse scenarios than that have happened to me through the years. Now this is in my book grace to the Rescue, but one time I was in fog so thick, I could not see the road or the lines by the side of the road. It was bad. My mind screamed PULL OVER but a voice inside my heart said “DO NOT FEAR”. I kept driving. Moments later-the fog was gone.

EVEN in the case of I had this bladder infection one time (terrible pain) And I knew it and I was asking God to lead me forth in peace (vs running to the doctor). Why?

Why would I do such a thing? Well I’ll tell you, I didn’t have insurance, or a babysitter, so I could not just GO to the doctor because the pain level said maybe I should. God led me to go to the doctor that day, and I did. He has LED me to where I should go, when I knew I was about to have no place to live. He knew the next step (I should take) Where as I did not know.

Now, people who have not experienced this concept (Being filled with the Spirit of God) Or asking for it, receiving it, or even understanding God’s word well enough to fathom or comprehend YES THIS IS REAL (this walking in the Spirit concept) are not going to understand you. They will think you are nuts, or deluded, or both!

The natural man or mind is at war With the Spirit of God! So this is not something everyone is going to understand. Not possible.

Therefore, I suggest if you need practice walking in the spirit, don’t be telling everyone what you are doing. Just pray, wait on God, ask him to lead you. Oh and there is Psalm 23: “He leads me to still waters, and green pastures, He restores my soul.” HE restores my Soul! Not man. HIM.

So, start with the little things. “Lord, I need a backpack” for my children, for school. Watch him lead you to one. “Father I need ………(fill in the blank) watch him do that too!

Now this is for those who are already filled with the Spirit of God, have given their lives to Jesus, and HE IS THEIR SHEPHERD! (you shall not be in want). This is not advice for everyone. You are his sheep? His child? His son? Let him lead you! And don’t be double minded about it either! Trust him to guide you, lead you, and remember this:

The devil is like the guy coming up behind you, honking his horn (being in a hurry) and you look down, you are following the speed limit, you are doing what you felt led to do.

Do not let him rush you. God is the author of Patience, (and Peace!) satan is the author of impatience, fear, and everything that is the opposite of God’s character.

Now remember, the best time to PRACTICE GOD”S WAYS is when you are not in an urgent situation. Get started today! Practice walking in the Spirit with the little things, then you’ll do better when the big trials come along.

Hope this helps! with Love, Laura Grace

Isaiah 55:12 “For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace;

born again · Bread of life · gentile Dogs · Jesus christ · Jesus is real · Jesus saved me · Jesus saves · Jesus saves all the way · Jesus teachings · Know Jesus · relationship with Jesus · Saved · Uncategorized · what being a christian means to me · what Christianity really is · what is grace · your life matters

Am I a Mutt? I think perhaps I am

June 13, 2017June 13, 2017 Laura GraceLeave a comment

cooper 2012 age 4 — **This is Cooper, He’s a mutt (and he doesn’t care)**

Who I am: Am I a Mutt?

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: ²⁵For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. ²⁶The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. ²⁷But 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.”

²⁸And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.”

²⁹Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”

³⁰And 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” ….

back when I hated God and all he stood for · body of christ · chosen · christandhislove · christian elitism · christian lives matter · christian living and the reality of it all · christianityfordummies · christianitytoday · christians growing · christianthoughts · christlightshining · christlike · church · churchbody · churchgrowth · epistles · from liberal to conservative · Uncategorized · universalism and new age · what being a christian means to me · what Christianity really is · witnessing christ

What being A Christian really is- and what it isn’t ….by Laura Grace

April 24, 2017April 24, 2017 Laura GraceLeave a comment

xIt just happens I’m in bible college, and a class I’m in right now is called apologetics. It’s a funny name for it, since I make no apologies about what I believe, or why.

This class helps us think about our Biblical worldview, what others believe, and challenges us to dig deep and see for ourselves why we believe what we do.

Everything I am about to tell you is based on scripture. If you have a question about that let me know, I will provide all the passages. What I can tell you is I am a witness just like the disciples who followed Jesus.

As a child I attended church. I heard all my life “Jesus is real.” When I was in high school I was a big time humanist. I was horrified at the world, the bullies, the mean people, the selfish people. I was a liberal, and very much a women’s libber, as well.

I was mad at God, and mad about injustice, which he seemed to do nothing about. I was apalled at conserative stances, and how christians could talk about love one minute, and throw people under the bus if they got food stamps, calling them “those who suck off the system” and take their tax dollars. For me that was the ultimate hypocrisy, to preach love one minute and be a “hater” the next toward those who were not so fortunate.

I married badly partly out of pride. I was going to show those conservatives what was what. “HERE I”LL SHOW YOU HOW to love” I thought (since they were so bad at it and all). it didn’t take long to figure out I got myself in a real pickle of suds (and problems). Totally broken. Defeated. In the dark. It was a blessing in disguise.

It wasn’t long before I found myself in a pile of failure. Baptists knocked on my door one day, asking if I was born again. “I’m a Lutheran” I said, and went to work and laughed at them for being so crazy. Later I was crying, upset, and a Billy Graham message captivated me. I HAD experiences with the presence of God (the Holy Spirit) prior to this.

When I ran away in high school in defiance, My mom prayed, cried and gave me to God. She said she didn’t know what to do with me. WHEN I was watching Billy Graham I truly realized my sin. Pride. Anger. Unforgiveness. Defiance toward God and others. Judging.

The Holy Spirit (Via Billy Graham and those that knocked on my door) caused me to see I had believed in Jesus but had not RECEIVED him as saviour and Lord. I saw he was the only way to Salvation. I saw I was a sinner, in need of help. I stopped saying in my heart “Well I’m not THAT bad of a person” and accepted him, gave him my life. I asked him to take over…………

After that, things changed for me. I went on a journey (30 years ago) It hasn’t ended yet. A journey of learning, (from the Holy Spirit) who IS my teacher. I’ve seen so many miracles I’ve lost track. I’ve seen God honor his word and provide for me.

God is holy. I know this. He wants us to be Holy. Why? Because if we are becoming holy (more like him) We are deeper in covenant with him. ALL we have is His, and all he has is ours. I’m not a liberal anynore, and I am not judging God for letting the world go to “hell in a handbasket” as they say. He gives us a choice. Me, You, everyone…..”choose this day” who you will believe in. God does not share his glory with any (other god) and he is not a humanist. He put us in the world, he can take us out if he wants to. He made us, created us TO BE HIS SONS (and daughters)

IF we rebel like satan we are satans’s kids -not his. When I was in defiance, if I had died, I would have gone to hell, and I know that. Yep they were furious when Jesus said “your Father is the devil” (wanted to kill him, and did!!) I undestand now, to be a humanist is to defy God’s discipline, holiness, and who He really is.

“HOW Dare you!” Their flesh said (to Jesus) How dare you not make us feel GOOD about how we are (in our sinful condition) How dare you convict us? Jesus was crucified because people were appalled he dared to say he was the only way. They wanted his miracles, but not his conviction. The Pharisees didn’t want either because they were already rich (and powerful.) They thought they knew God but they only knew his laws, and not his heart. They were full of pride.

Well, the road or door to Salvation is to admit we are wrong, and God is right. There is no other way, and there is no other name by which Men are saved.

JESUS ….the name above all names. Jesus………He’s proven himself to me, time and time again. I didn’t take “Someone else’s word for it” I just heard the preacher and said Okay “make yourself real to me Lord.”

He will rule and reign. Don’t believe me? Ask him! I dare you.

with love, Laura Grace Author, Grace to the Rescue

PS: Yes, I am born again. Filled with the Spirit. and in love with Jesus Christ