Lara Love's Blog, page 336

Will You Die?

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” John 12:24-26 esv

I have been to countless churches, and if anything stands out about how the leadership and congrega...

How’s Your Reputation?

How’s Your Reputation?

So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 1 Thessalonians 1:7-9

What was the reputation of the Thessalonians when...

The Dog Who Wrangles Snakes

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James 4:7

My ministry’s beautiful English coonhound perfectly healthy dog Esther whom I have tried to adopt out for several years unsuccessfully stood hunkered down like she would vomit, a little drool coming from her mouth, refusing to eat the food I had just brought her despite her usual w...

When Everything Falls Apart

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Phil. 1:6

I am the kind of person who when I take things apart cannot for the life of me figure out how to put them back together no matter how hard I try to pay attention to how they came apart. And no matter how many times I take the same thing apart and either get help putting it back together again or somehow manage to figure it out on my own after a great deal...

Are You Hungry?

“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” John 4:39-42 ESV

If you’ve heard the story of the Sama...

Come Out of Hiding

“…God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”...

Guidance from God – Please Be Careful

Guidance from God – Please Be Careful!

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 Jn. 4:1

“Okay, everyone,” the instructor for an addiction recovery weekend seminar so much as told the class. “Take out your pens and paper and listen for guidance from god. Write down what he tells you. We’ll have a discussion afterward.” The seminar had nothing to do with God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and th...

Are You Contagious?

“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.” Psalm 42:1

“Thank you Lord for Lara whose love for you is contagious,” a friend said as she prayed for me one day. I lost track of what she prayed next, though God of course didn’t, as I teared up hearing the words she had prayed. Though I am exceeding beyond description in loving and living for and serving the Lord as I zealously pursue Him and my life’s calling to help people become and remain forever follow...

Drive-Thru Happiness – Cheap!

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Mt. 16:24

If you’re looking for a yummy, delicious, soothingly comfortable, quick-style, easy-of-course, no-dishes-to-wash-after, drive-through happily blissful life, cheap to boot, I wouldn’t recommend becoming a rock solid, sold out, utterly devoted, passionately, unreservedly, unabashedly, on-fire committed forever follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. When I drove...

Do You Need to Apologize?

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Mt. 5:16

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Cor. 9:27

“My husband and I don’t like how you’ve been talking to us,” a beautiful young woman told me one evening as we stood on her porch.

My apology was immediate. “I am so sorry!” I exclaimed. “I am so thankful for your...