Lara Love's Blog, page 332

Is Your Cup Half Full?

Is Your Cup Half Full?

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Psalm 23:5 ESV

You’ve probably heard the expression before about seeing your life as a half full cup or a half empty one. In other words, focusing on the good versus the bad. Looking at your life negatively or with a positive, thankful attitude. Do you tend to focus on what’s wrong in your life, or what’s right? Are you prone to being sad, discouraged, self-pit...

Amazing Praise

Amazing Praise

“Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty heavens.

Praise him for his acts of power;

praise him for his surpassing greatness. . .

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.” (Psalm 150 ESV)

One day I sent a beloved friend and mentor an e-mail with the words on the subject line, “Amazing Praise.” I shared with her something beautiful God had done in my life that took under 5 minutes. Less than 24 hours later, she sent me a reply e-mail sharin...

God Why Won’t You Take This from Me?

God, Why Won’t You Take This from Me?

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

“God, why won’t you take this from me?” I asked the Lord for the umpteenth time. I had been carrying a burden, a weight, a responsibility, for so long, and cried out to Him so incessantly for relief, a...

Need to Rest?

Need to Rest?

“Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.” Psalm 116:7

I am learning to rest. Oh, how hard it is to do. I am restless by nature. I think I was born worrying and trying to figure things out. I have had a larger-than-life sense of responsibility for as long as I can remember. Do this, do that, accomplish this, accomplish that, help this situation, help that one, help this person, help that one. Imagine my surprise when the Lord responded to...

Update from Lara / Prayer

Hi everyone, Due to exceeding fatigue resulting from many years of full-time ministry work along with caring for a big crew of special needs & senior rescued dogs with virtually no help on a bare-bones personal income & ministry budget coupled with the ongoing trials of life, I am entering into a season of rest as I seek the Lord, grow in my relationship with Him, and as He continues to refine me and conform me to Christ and prepare me for where He is leading me in ministry. I will be writing...

Post-Hurricane Update from Lara

Post-Hurricane Update from Lara

I’ve heard it often said God will use a mule, or ass, to do something He desires in a person – as He did in the Old Testament. In my case, He used a hurricane. I had not been away in six years because of all the dogs in my care, and thought it was impossible to go anywhere for even a night. With 24 hours’ notice for a mandatory evacuation, He provided everything I needed to get in a cargo van with 10 special needs & senior rescued dogs and sent me to Virginia o...

The Promised Land

The Promised Land

“See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land the LORD swore he would give to your fathers…” Deuteronomy 1:8 NIV

“Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers…” Deuteronomy 1:8 KJV

“See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, told you…” Deuteronomy 1:21 NIV

“Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee...

Coming Out

Coming Out

“And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes: And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.” Deuteronomy 6:22-23 underlining added

The Lord brought the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt to bring them into the promised land. Though the first generation of the people came physically out of Egypt, they did not enter into the pr...

God, Why Won’t You Answer Me?

Why Won’t You Answer Me God?

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and t...

How NOT To Make a Decision

How NOT to Make a Decision

“Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” John 5:19

Feelings, feelings, feelings. Some people aren’t in touch with them. Some people are in touch with them but don’t make too big a deal out of them. Some people are so in touch with them it’s hard to see around them. One of the biggest mistakes I have...