Lara Love's Blog, page 64

Why I Gained So Much Weight

You may not be able to relate to the details of this part of my personal story, but I promise you the underlying message contained within is for absolutely EVERYONE!

After decades of battling a life-threatening eating disorder which when coupled with a digestive issue in recent years, at 5 foot 5 inches I dropped down to 94 pounds and was terrified.

No matter how many times God over the years chastened me and called me to repentance for my sin of destroying the body He gave me, and no matter how...

I Am So Stressed Out!

Feeling stressed out? Ever feel that way? Maybe once in a while? Maybe all the time? Maybe for as far back as you can remember? Ever felt SO STRESSED OUT?!

I have struggled with stress all the way back to childhood! On my personal page in my school yearbook, in black and white for all to see, was the expression I  used ALL the time: “I am so stressed out!”

Fast forward to my being in my mid 50s. I still oftentimes feel SO STRESSED OUT! Yes, I still struggle with stress. Daily in fact. Probably a...

Blessed In Spite of

I was in a massive hospital care system in my new Florida location just an hour before writing this message where I do not have any family or friends with two sweet young women who were giving me two CT scans as part of weeks worth of testing and appointments with specialists to address a number of health issues happening simultaneously. I am also dealing with decades-long personal challenges, chronic fatigue, some very emotional unexpected issues involving others, a memory issue, an attention s...

God Told Me This!

This message is actually not about anything specific God told me, but it is instead a warning. God makes abundantly clear in the Bible that He speaks to the hearts of His people through the Bible, by His Holy Spirit in line with the Bible, in dreams and visions, through His followers, and in any manner He so chooses. And herein lies the warning.

When you believe God has told you something, it is critically important that you do your best to make sure God has in fact spoken to your heart. Why? Be...

Lara’s BIG Prayer Request!

I would greatly appreciate prayer! Without going into detail, while I have faced seemingly relentless challenges for decades, sometimes I enter into a particularly hard season. I am in one now. I feel the enemy coming at me with exceeding force, and every direction I look there is great challenge. I could quit life and ministry in a heartbeat in the midst of this particularly because I am battle weary from decades of trials, but in the strength of Christ for the glory of Christ I press on.

I wou...

I Feel So Weak Right Now!

I feel so weak right now! Those are the precise words I thought as I finished up a walk with Jesus down the beach in the town where the Lord led me to set up a ministry base after a number of years on the road full-time for Him and ministry. You might be surprised to know I had that thought about my extreme weakness after taking a fast-paced wonderful walk on a very hot late October day. Especially considering several health issues yet resolved. I am quite sure I looked anything but weak hurryin...

When It’s Hard to Love

Maybe you’re too tired to love. Or feel like someone is too difficult to love. Or perhaps someone you dearly love has just worn you out with all the broken promises and the running back to the addiction time and again so you just feel like enough is enough with the love. Or you can’t fathom loving those people over there given what they did to your loved ones. Or you’re picky and choosey when it comes to love. Or someone has broken your heart way too many times. Or why should you have to love th...

Joy Regardless!

I was at the little post office in my new location in Florida where God called me to set up a ministry base after some years on the road for Him and ministry full-time when He saw fit to use something while I was waiting in line to jar me awake.

Sometimes God teaches us things even over and again and yet still we need His loving, strong, and, yes, convicting and chastening reminders. Like with the message He gave me at the post office of all places.

Thank God the line was short and quick. I am n...

When the Devil Makes Headway

Ever felt walloped by the end of a day? Beaten down? Totally discouraged, down, disheartened, depressed, icky, yucky, defeated, etc.? I sure did one day. And I had a strong sense it wasn’t just because of a long somewhat challenging day not to mention week. No, I sensed it was something more than that.

The Holy Spirit had something to say about this.

“He [the devil]  made headway today because you allowed him to,” I sensed the Holy Spirit speak to my heart.

How so? I had allowed the devil to con...

They Sacrificed Their Time

One night a friend sacrificed her time. She has a busy life despite being retired helping her elderly mother, watching over her grandchildren to help her daughter, along with lots of ministering to people. She was happily resting as she eagerly read a book when I called. She did not hesitate to spend a long time with me on the telephone when she learned I was struggling with something. Next morning, I got a call back from another friend I had reached out to in my struggle. She is a single mom wh...