Lara Love's Blog, page 299

Feeling Discouraged?

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

If there’s anything I’ve learned about discouragement, and I’ve experienced more of it than imaginable and still do regularly, it’s this. Satan wants to get Christ’s followers discouraged so we loosen our grip on and focus on and resolve on and level of commitment to God, God’s Word, God’s will for our lives, and God’s calling for u...

PRACTICING Thanksgiving

So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, Will give You thanks forever;

We will show forth Your praise to all generations.

    – Psalm 79:13

 

The word “practice” according to Merriam-Webster.com includes in its definition to “carry out, apply”, “to do or perform often, customarily, or habitually”, and “to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient.” The Lord makes abundantly clear in His Word from start to finish that we are not only to love Him with all our hearts, and to...

This is a LIE!

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Tim. 3:16-17

“Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.” Psalm 119:89

“For I am the Lord, I do not change;” Malachi 3:6

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to M...

It’s Only Porn

“Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Cor. 6:18-20

   It’s only porn. That’s all it is. So innocent. Compared to what others are doing. It’s all relative, isn’t...

Too Busy with Church & Life for Christ

“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”  And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one th...

You Don’t Need to Understand

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

 

Sometimes the Spirit of God gives me a scripture to use with the devotionals He gives me to write that doesn’t make sense to me. It’s not the one I would use. I want to keep looking. I want to find the perfect scripture. The one that makes sense to me. The one that’s comfortable for me. The one that feels secure. The one that seems...

Wrestling with God

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:10

I was in a wrestling match for years before I finally woke up and really heard what the Spirit of God had been telling me all along I had been doing and needed to repent of and change direction.

In a nutshell, I had been wrestling with God. For years. With the gift of writing He has given me. Time after time, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, I had seen the gift of writing as MY...

What’s In Your Closet?

“Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; an...

Why I Don’t Recommend the Spiritual Gifts Test

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that[a]you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same G...

Bad Pleasure, Good Pleasure

“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” Hebrews 11:24-26

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither...