Lara Love's Blog, page 382

I am a Mother, Bridesmaid, and Midwife

Some may look at my life and pity me. After all, I am 47 years old and never had children. I was abandoned by two husbands and was never asked to be a bridesmaid. And I have never hurried to the hospital to hold a friend's hand as she gave birth, nor have I walked beside a friend through her pregnancy. I have probably only been to one bridal shower, and I can't remember if I was ever invited to a baby shower. Maybe years ago. Some would pity me indeed, given how much I have missed. But alas,...

Are You Headed for Hell?

Some time ago, a woman told me she was too bound to the world to place her faith in Christ. I suppose she did not want to give up the pleasures she enjoys in this temporal life, however much or little she might enjoy them anyway, for the sake of everlasting life with God. She would rather be lost and give up forever with God than surrender what she enjoys in this lifetime by believing in Jesus and making the decision to follow Him. Oh, how my heart grieved for her. But I did not only grieve f...

Laughter Amid Trials

Paralyzed dog Mr. Simeon looks into empty laundry machine
while Speckles enjoys her visit in the clean laundry.....A good laugh! Life is full of trials isn't it? Jesus didn't promise us the perfect life. In fact, He said we could rest assured we will have tribulations. The hope for those of us who repent and place our faith in Him who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins so we can be forgiven by God and promised eternal life is not that life will be easy. In fact, for some, i...

When God Gives You More than You Can Handle

"Sixteen dogs is more than one person can handle," I told God at the wee hours of the morning. I love spending time with Him in the early hours before the day begins and the 16 mostly special needs and senior rescued dogs in my care start needing me.

God's response was terse. He spoke these words into my heart. "It is more than one person can handle."

photo courtesy of pixabay.comSigh. Relief. God had agreed with me.

Not so fast.

"But you are not one person," I heard Him speak further into my hea...

When Your Vision is Not from God

Are you holding onto a vision for dear life, refusing to let it go? Are you hanging onto a dream you simply cannot part with? Do you have a plan for your future that you are utterly convinced must come to pass? Let me ask you a question. Have you ever considered the vision might not be from God?

photo courtesy pixabay.coHow often, I wonder, do we hold on to visions and dreams and plans that are simply not from Him? How often do we hang on to what we have convinced ourselves most assuredly must...

A Reminder to be Humble

I thought it was a misprint. Surely she was writing too fast. After all, technology makes it so easy to write a message quickly and send it even quicker. My beloved friend must have typed too quickly onto her little telephone whatever-it-is-called, and hit the send button. Why else would she send me a message like this one?

"God told me that because of your incredible LOVE AND OBEDIENCE TO HIM, HE has GREAT PLANS FOR HIS MINISTRY....WALK BY FAITH."

Maybe others might not catch the misprint. The...

Compassion without Christ

For anyone who thinks you can't have compassion without Christ, think again. In fact, if you take one good look at the world, you will more than likely find all sorts of compassion. At forty-seven years old, I daresay I see more compassion now than ever. Sure, evil is everywhere. But compassion abounds. From one non-profit organization to another, from this cause to that cause, from one new group to another longstanding one, from one individual raising money for one family in need to another...

Goodbye Prosperity, Hello Prosperity

Oh, how I might long for the days I gorged myself on prosperity "Bible" teaching. I didn't just love the teaching. I lusted after it. I rushed off to every church, every prayer meeting, every fellowship, every book, every so-called teacher, anyone or anything that helped me to become satiated with how to live the life I wanted, how to get everything I wanted, how to get this healed and that healed, how to believe God for this and believe God for that, how to get rid of suffering and live happ...

Walk by Faith Doggie Update

For anyone who has followed the Walk by Faith Ministry doggies through the years, or perhaps just recently has stumbled upon the current 16 mostly special needs and senior rescued dogs in the ministry's and my care, it won't take you long to figure out how very much they keep me on my toes. With two paralyzed dogs, one missing back feet, one missing a leg, one without eyes, one nearly 17 years old, and plenty more, you can imagine that there is a fair amount of work involved. There are also p...

My Birthday - Best Gift I've Ever Received

Today is my 47th birthday. It is 5:29 am, and I have already had the best birthday I have ever had. It is not because my dreams have all come true. Most of them have not. It is not because I have a big pile of presents to open. I have a single card from my mom. It is not because I have a family to celebrate with me later today. I do not. It is not because my first husband came back. He did not. It is not because my second husband returned, or that he is well again. He did not, and is not. It...