Lara Love's Blog, page 360
December 26, 2015
The Day of Atonement
The Day of Atonement
“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God...
December 25, 2015
Steadfast Love
Steadfast Love
“We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
How steadfast is your love for us, but God, why will we not be steadfast in our love for you? This is what I wrote one day to the Lord in the notebook I keep that is dedicated to Him. Oh, how my heart breaks that the Lord would create us, love us, bless us, provide for us, have mercy upon us, send Christ to the cross to atone for our sins, forgive us when we repent and turn to Him through faith in Christ, invite us into a r...
December 24, 2015
Love Story
Love Story
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” 1 John 3:1
Who doesn’t want to hear a good love story? Who doesn’t want to be part of one? We were created to love, weren’t we? We hunger for love. We thirst for love. We crave love. We look for love. We’re lost without love. We’re lonely when we don’t have it. We search high and low for it. Some of us go to any lengt...
December 23, 2015
HELP NEEDED: Dog Whose Owner Died Tragically Now Dying
HELP NEEDED: Dog Whose Human Mom Died Tragically May Be Dying
Some stories are hard to tell, especially when they hit close to home. Some of you know the closest female friend I ever had was found several months ago dead with a gunshot wound to her chest. A few days ago, my vet called to tell me her dog Elijah who is now with me probably has nasal cancer and may not have very long to live. Only God knows how much time sweet Elijah has left, and test results are not back to show whether or not...
The Untouchables
The Untouchables
“And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.” Mark 1:40-42
We all have untouchables, don’t we – if we’re honest. How easily we can judge others for treating some people as outcasts,...
December 22, 2015
What Obedience Looks Like
What Obedience Looks Like
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15
I don’t feel like doing this. This doesn’t look right. This doesn’t feel good. I don’t like the sound of this. Do you realize what people are going to say if I do this? Or think? I am going to look like such a fool. And sound so ridiculous. Lots of us have had these thoughts when it comes to the will of God, haven’t we? Maybe even lots of the time. In fact, we may find ourselves making decisions in our lives based ex...
December 21, 2015
The Doorkeeper
The Doorkeeper
“For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Psalm 84:10
When I was young, I loved a famous Irish rock band so much I camped out in the wee hours in an exceedingly long line to get what turned out to be 9th row tickets to the event. I was so desperate to hear the band I would probably have sat in the concert parking lot to hear one word of one song.
The psalmist in Psalm 84 is...
December 19, 2015
Nothing without Love
Nothing Without Love
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity[love], I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity [love], it profiteth me nothing.”...
December 18, 2015
Follow the Leader: It’s Not a Game
Follow the Leader: It’s Not a Game
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14
When a beautiful, jubilant woman hurried over to my car as soon as I pulled up in the parking lot where I go to church with my homeless friends, I had no idea what she would say. I had barely turned the car off before she made it blatantly clear she had something important to say. Was she angry? Did she need something? Whatever it was, clearly it was important enough that sh...
December 17, 2015
What Repentance Looks Like
What Repentance Looks Like
“Bring forth therefore fruits meet [deserving according to the concordance]for repentance:” Matthew 3:8
I felt awful. Dirty. There was nothing horribly wrong about what I was doing. I wasn’t breaking the law, doing anything immoral, hurting anyone or anything that I could see, not in the grand scheme of things anyway. My heart wasn’t filled with hatred and hurt, worry and yuck. But that wasn’t the point. I felt icky. It didn’t take very long to figure out why.
As mu...
