Lara Love's Blog, page 406

I Am Not Like You - DAILY INSPIRATION 12/31

For the umpteenth time in my life, I couldn't help but think the thought. I'm not like you. As I finished up reading a delightfully, simple, and heart-warming little book called Orphaned Hearts by Shawna K. Williams, I felt happy, satisfied, and blessed - and, quite honestly, discouraged. Happy, satisfied, and blessed because I so enjoyed the lovely, light, and joyful read in this world filled with so much darkness. So then why discouraged? Because I made the mistake once again of comparing s...

Quit Being a Fool: BIBLE TAKEOUT 12/29

Quit being a fool. Be wise. Belief in Jesus Christ is not enough. If you find your life constantly crashing down around you, ask yourself this question. Is your life founded on the rock? You have built your life upon the sand if you hear God's Word and do not do what it says. Would you build a new house upon the sand? Then why would you build your life upon it? Move beyond believing in Jesus Christ as Lord. Hear His Word. Do His Word. Live the life God created you for. 
photo courtesy of...

DAILY INSPIRATION 12/30 - Why Help the Helpless?

"Why are you helping dogs like that?" the woman asked me.

She didn't know Walk by Faith Ministry's mission is to share the Gospel while ministering the Lord's love to a world in need - with a big emphasis on people who are lost, broken, hopeless, homeless, abandoned, rejected, suicidal, depressed, addicted, and so very much more. Nor did she know the ministry provides sanctuary-style care for mostly special needs and senior rescued dogs. But I was to discover in the short time we crossed paths...

DAILY INSPIRATION 12/28 - Be a Free Bird?

I didn't know any better. I didn't know God. I didn't know Jesus. So I didn't really know anything at all. But I thought I did. I thought I knew so much. So I wrote a poem as a child that I probably supposed could have changed the world. I don't know if anyone outside my family ever saw the poem. But the world sure has changed anyway in the past few decades, hasn't it? Somehow the world got a hold of the notion of my poem. The poem that could have cost me my life. The poem that is costing the...

DAILY INSPIRATION 12/27 - The Red Box of Dreams

The little Red Box of Dreams stood solid and sturdy, albeit dirty, in the center of my living room, its dust and dirt and paint chips hogging up altogether too much space upon its surface. The door to the box stood tall and open, as though beckoning more dreams to wander their way into the box's fold. But the file folders within, decades old, remained empty, a musty reminder that I have taken my dreams out of the box and have lived a life thus far I never imagined. My little Red Box of Dreams,...

DAILY INSPIRATION 12/28 - Mercy's Triumph

Some trials are little; some are big. Some triumphs are small; some are gargantuan. Trials, tribulations, and triumphs come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, at all sorts of times, and in infinite ways. They are all relative, aren't they, to the individual that experiences them. But all true triumphs have one thing in common. The Lord. And so it is I give all glory to God for my tiny trial and my enormous triumph, which to some might seem so inconsequential in the grand scheme of life. But to...

DAILY INSPIRATION 12/26 - Dead End or New Beginning?

Endings or beginnings? For years, I saw endings as dead ends rather than opportunities for new beginnings. It wasn't a surprise, then, I wanted to end it all. My life, that is. I could never seem to see - and feel - past the trauma, tragedy, and pain of endings to see the potential and possibility of what lay ahead. I had no hope.
photo courtesy of photographer via morguefile.comWhether it was the death of a loved one, the loss of a relationship, an unwanted divorce, rejection from family, the...

DAILY INSPIRATION 12/23 - Letting Go of Ladders

“I feel like I have to get somewhere,” I thought to myself, not for the first time. I have felt this for much of my life. And isn’t this what the world teaches, and isn't this so intertwined with the "American dream"? We must climb our social ladders. We must climb our corporate ladders. We must climb ladders, ladders, and more ladders. Always higher. Achieve. Accomplish. Succeed. Success? Yes. How many ladders can we climb? How fast? How far? A life of climbing ladders. And, even following C...

DAILY INSPIRATION 12/23 - The Sheep Who Lost Her Way

By Annie Kelly 
Annie Kelly is a long-time loving friend and supporter of LARA LOVE and WALK BY FAITH MINISTRY

Last week, I was driving down Hamilton Station Road in western Loudoun County, VA, toward Route 9, when I noticed a very large sheep standing on the left side of the road. I jumped out of my Jeep and tried to herd her back down the hill toward her flock.


courtesy photo from photographer via www.morguefile.com
Right then, this big pickup truck was coming down the road in the opposite...

DAILY INSPIRATION 12/20 - Little Girl Sold Her Soul

I watched the little girl from afar. I never got too close to her, but then I'm not really sure I got altogether close to anyone back then from the little I remember. No matter how much I loved, loved, loved candy and anything sweet and sugary, I suppose I just didn’t want to buy into what she was doing. I kept my distance, even if it meant less candy. Less candy from her anyway. I had my source. Sugar addicts always do, I suppose. I watched her though. I couldn't help it. She stood out from...