Become all you can be (in Jesus). by His Spirit!
We should never give up.
Always forgive…
give people another chance unless they deliberately abused us
and I am not perfect
Just because I try to be good does not mean that I am.
I am only Good if God puts his goodness within me….
All the rest is striving (to be good) and it proves nothing
The Only Goodness I have is what he plants and waters within me
By his Spirit and in his Love
Laura Grace
Yesterday I was facing a hard day at school (bible school) as I was studying critical thinking, many details on how to do a paper “the proper way” In true University style. I have learned about scholarly sources all kinds of details about plagiarism, and ….Well it’s all quite detailed, formated, cut and dry. I am a free thinker who loves to pray, be creative, and Uh, guess I pride myself a little bit on “being free spirited” and walking inthe spirit.I believe in pray, open your mouth, and let the river flow!
Details that I am experiencing in school right now are a difficult challenge for me. I cannot deny I need it, I just realy didn’t WANT to grow some more!
I am ready to be a big girl now, and go out and do more things for Jesus! You know the frustration, right?
“Let’s get this show on the road” we say (to God) year after year after agonizing year! “Gosh daddy, have I not grown enough yet?” “Can I drive the car now, please?” “Tell me again how to adjust the mirrors,” Dad says. “BUT all the other kids are driving Dad, they never check the mirrors! They’ve been driving for a long time now! I am careful! Please Dad Please?” “Take the car,” he says, “show me again what you know, but only around the block.” “Oh Gosh Daddy,” (Humph) “This just isn’t fair!” (sigh) I’ve been at this for thirty years now. God has let me “drive the car” spiritually speaking. I’ve ran into a few things, bumped into others at times, and sometimes don’t even go exactly the direction he says. I am learning! One day he will say; “You’re ready girl” for a big long road trip!’ “I am sending you out.”
Until then. he just said I have to understand how the entire car works! (No exceptions). And maybe the other kids won’t have to do this but, I do! (for some reason I can’t understand right now) But guess what? I will before it’s all over, understand perfectly why My Father Required so much of me.
with love and prayers! Heb 6:11-13 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Laura Grace
“1, 2,3” The devil’s after me (goes the song) 4,5,6 “he’s always playing tricks….”
The bible says Jesus defeated satan, at the cross. For years, people (of God) just believed him to be a defeated foe, carried on with their lives, and never gave “satan’ a second thought. This was back before the great revivals and great Pentecostal Movement, and awakening. Now to understand why some think the Pentecostal movement is a bit weird (or crazy, or real peculiar) we need to step into their shoes a minute, and, try to understand their logic a little bit.
Yes, That’s what I said, Try to understand (their logic) for just a minute in time, rather than getting so defensive about what you know.
I remember trying to tell my grandma (and others) how the devil needed to be rebuked (in prayer) and the look I got was, “Well you sound crazy, but, I’m not touching that one with a ten foot pole!” Here she was, along with many others I know Just “trusting God was with her” and protecting her, as she went about in faith and lived her life (in faith, believing!)
How is it okay to tell someone they’ve been all messed up all these years, just because they do not see it as you do? If what I believe makes my brother stumble I’m not walking in love. (ouch!). Therefore, in many cases, we need to wait to be invited (or asked) before we speak. We don’t run up and clang the cymbals in someone’s ears! (That is not love!).
For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. Gal 5:5-7
So we have Kenneth Hagin teachings, (which I have read) where He said the Lord showed him: “I”m not going to do anything about the devil, you do it!” And so, we have a book called the Authority of the Believer (by Kenneth Hagin) and many offshoots of those teachings, which came after that.
When we learn something, it’s so easy to just say well “everyone” needs to know this (and start running around informing people of “the truth!”). You know, I’ve done this too.
Therefore, many Charismatic Christians (who talk about being Spirit filled a lot, and so on) Which I have been as well, become little “elitists” and now we have the answer, and all those other Christians “do not.” (and need to be informed, by us!)
We often don’t concern ourselves with the fact that OUR BIBLE SAYS Faith must work through love, and without it, we are nothing but a clanging cymbal! No, we don’t want to hear that part, do we? So we go and “crash” the party of those who are just believing, God is good, the devil is defeated, and I am having faith I’ll be just fine!
You know, when Jesus said he would bring division, it was never His intention the Body of Christ be so divided. (NOT HIS PREFERENCE!) as he was talking about believers and non-believers, not his People. So this is the thing: You want to walk in Love (Jesus says to me) try loving your brethren for once…………..Those who do believe…….(already) Who are walking in their personal revelation, and don’t need you to insert teachings upon them, which might make them stumble…..
Because, if you do that, you are not walking in love…….
“Here’s how we know we have God’s Spirit ruling within us…..We love the brethren……..
That is those “other people” of God, who do not always believe exactly as we do…..
HMM ……Food for thought! Lord “bring revival” to all your people we pray, help us to return to our first love, which is you Father! And not just be puffed up with the sin of pride, in what we think we know. “Amen.” -Laura Grace
Luke 12:1 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”
Jesus did not mince words here. Jesus actually warned his disciples, several times, about this sin. You know, a lot of people who knew me (a few years back) think I have toned it down too much, or perhaps I am even compromising, because I don’t make a strong stand about politics, or many other ISSUES I used to be very vocal about, as a Christian.
The reason is not compromise. It’s because I have asked God to PURGE the yeast of the Pharisee OUT of me. Pharisees are good at pointing fingers at other people (and their sin!).
I have had people point fingers at me, Saying “well you were divorced” (and quote scripture to tell me how I am now some permanent adulteress?) Yes, this has actually happened, from supposed GOD LOVING Christians!
I am filled with the Spirit of God, I have prayed for discernment, Love, Fruits of the Spirit (Daily) and let me tell you something, I can see their hypocrisy, as clear as day.
The bible says “Thou Shalt have No Other God’s before me” (warning of Idolatry), beginning with the 10 commandments, and later on in our New Testament it says, “my little children, keep yourselves from idols’.
Many who think they are so holier-than-thou, have idols in their lives, at one time or another. Whatever is put before God (at any time) Is an idol. Their children, their church, their job, their houses…………..
Their spouse, their finances, their SHOPPING ……..
At any moment if you have put something BEFORE GOD at that very moment, it is an idol. And if I read my bible as if it were some sword to stab you with, I would have to tell you I cannot even eat with you……..that you are going to be left out of God’s Kingdom!
This is the hypocrisy Jesus was talking about. The leaven that gets into the whole lump.
The reason so many stay out of church and say “I don’t go there, hypocrites go there” is because even the lost, who are wandering, looking for Jesus, can spot a hypocrite when they see one. As I minister to people, I have had many say “you are different, you are real”
It’s a compliment, one I Praise God for, (every day). no I’m not an idol…….(thank God) People are not flocking to me by the thousands, because I say what they want to hear.
Incidentally, many turned from Jesus, when he started to get down to business! He was left with 11………
I have counted the cost, I have made up my mind. I hate sin (Just as God does) But you know what? I’m not one to go around pointing fingers and screaming SINNER!
Because I too am a sinner…….saved by Grace.
Laura Grace, Author, minister, mom, wife, grandma …….and lover of God ………..
It grieves my heart…when I see self-righteous Christians parading around…..acting like they are “ALL THAT” ….did you forget who you were, before Jesus saved you?
Heavenly Father, In the name of Jesus I pray..if I have any areas of hypocrisy in my life PURGE IT FROM ME! Let me walk in and partake of the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth I pray! identify any idols in my life, help me cast them down….
I long to worship you…..and you alone Father God. Don’t even let me idolize anyone’s teachings or leadership……I belong to you…….
amen.
gracetogrowdaily 