PRAISE Daddy Day!

Psalm 150

Praise the Lord! Praise God in the sanctuary; praise Him in the heavens of His power!

Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness!

Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with the lute and harp!

Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with stringed and wind instruments or flutes!

Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath and every breath of life Praise the Lord! PRAISE THE LORD! Hallelujah!

I am declaring this PRAISE Daddy Day! Just praise Him today! All day!

Let's Praise...

Daddy God, You ARE Worthy. You are Holy. Bless Your Holy Name. You are Mighty. You are Loving and Kind. You ARE Truth. You are full of Grace and Forgiveness. You are Mighty in Battle. You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You are the Great I AM! You are my Rock and my Shield. You are Wise and Perfect. You are the Creator of all things. You are the Great Physician. You are my everything. I love You, Lord. I praise Your Name. Thank You Jesus. Thank You. Praise You. (feel free to keep praising your King!) In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen!

In Love with my Daddy,
Lara ;)

Philippians 3:13 (KJV)
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

I have the memory of an elephant. LOL. I can tell you who, what, where, how, and why I was hurt or abused...If I let myself dwell on the past. Maybe you don't have the "beat a dead horse" syndrome...hey, more power to ya! I'm speaking to anyone with the following symptoms...

~ Holds a grudge.
~ Has difficulty letting go of hurts, anger, disappointments, etc.
~ Brings up the past in an argument.
~ Dwells on the coulda, shoulda, woulda's...
~ Let's their mind reflect on the past.
~ Can't let go of the past.

If you suffer from one or more of the above symptoms, I have FANTASTIC news! There is a CURE! And guess what? There are no harmful side affects...well, other than a sore flesh.

THE CURE:

Step One: Give it to the Father

Step Two: LET it GO!

Step Three: Look forward. Press on.

Step Four: REPEAT until it works!!!

Bottom Line: LET GO OF THE PAST!

You will NEVER find happiness there. The only thing you will find is anger, pain, and disappointments. Don't keep reminding yourself and your husband of all his past failures. Get OVER it! I'm sorry if this seems abrasive, but it's the Truth. LET IT GO! If you don't YOU will be miserable until you do. YOU will only hurt yourself and those you really love. Release it to your Daddy and LEAVE it there!

It's YOUR choice. You CAN do it....IF you really want to.

Let's Pray,

Daddy God, Thank You for Your Word. Please help me to let go of (you fill in the blank). I no longer want this baggage. PLEASE take it from me and help me to look forward and press on. Please send Your Holy Spirit to remind me to let it go when I try to pick it up again. Thank You, Daddy. I RELEASE it to You. Thank You so much for taking this burden from me. Thank YOU! THANK YOU! Praise You Jesus! Thank YOU! I receive Your Peace, Lord. I receive it. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,
Lara ;)

Prayer Life

Prayer should be a very important part of every Christian's life. One reason that we should pray is that it delights the Lord.

Proverbs 15:8 - The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, extremely offensive to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight!

Another reason we should pray is, we can be assured that He hears our prayers. Just knowing that the Almighty God takes the time to listen to us should make us want to talk to Him.

Proverbs 15:29 - The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

I Peter 3:12 - For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their prayer...

Prayer brings healing and restoration.

James 5:15-16a - And the prayer [that is] of faith will save him who is sick, and the Lord will restore him; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess to one another you faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray also for one another, that you may be healed and restored...

As Christian wives and Mothers it is especially important that we pray. Our prayers are very powerful weapons. Our prayers are vitally important to our husbands and children. We can impact their lives in a huge way with our prayers.
James 5:16b ...The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes a tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. Amplified
...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.(KJV)

If you are reading this devotional, and you do not have a consistent daily prayer life, this is your wake up call. You are no longer ignorant. You must...we must pray. We must pray every day.

Romans 12:12 Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer. Amplified
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. NIV

Philippians 4:6 - Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

You don't need a special book of formula. Just talk to God like you would a close friend. That is what He wants from you more than anything. He wants a personal relationship with you. You cannot have a relationship with someone you never talk to...or only talk to when you’re in trouble...

Let's Pray,

Daddy God, thank You for hearing my prayers. Thank You for wanting to hear me. Lord, I want to have a closer relationship with You. Forgive me for the times I have put the cares and activities of life before You. I commit to You today...I will actively pursue a consistent daily prayer life. I will pursue You, Daddy God. Thank You for loving me. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

Prayerfully,
Lara ;)

The Two Most Important Commandments - LOVE (part 4 -Final)

At the beginning of this study, I gave you our foundation Scripture Matthew 22:37-38. In it Jesus was telling a lawyer about two commandments. The first was what we have been discussing.

I would like to end this study with the second commandment that Jesus gave in Matthew 22:39; And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as you do yourself.

I don't know about you...but...that is a very hard thing to do. It is not impossible though. We have to choose to Love.

Other Christians can be very difficult to love...for a variety of reasons that I am sure you are aware of. Yet in the book of John, Jesus tells us why it is important to love each other. John 13:34-35 says; I give you a new commandment; that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another [If you keep on showing love among yourselves].

Jesus doesn't just mean our brothers and sisters in the Lord...He means our enemies too. In Matthew 5:44 Jesus said, ...Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. But wait...He goes even further in Luke 6:27-28; But I say to you who are listening now to me: Make it a practice to love your enemies, treat well (do good to, act nobly toward) those who detest you and pursue you with hatred. Invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God's favor upon those who abuse you and misuse you.

WHEW...those are some pretty strong words. This is no easy task. Let's go deeper...

WHAT IS LOVE?

I'm sure you've heard it and/or read it...

I Corinthians 13:4-8 - Love endures long and is patient and kind; love is never envious nor boils over with jealousy, it is not boastful and does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited; it is not rude and does not act unbecomingly. Love (GOD'S LOVE IN US) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails...

There really isn't anything more I can add. God has explained "what" love is thoroughly. The next question would be...how?

HOW DO WE LOVE?

In part one of this study we learned that the Scriptures tell us that if we love God...we will keep His commandments. Well, this is one of His commandments. Obviously, we don't just snap our fingers and suddenly have the kind of love described in I Corinthians. It comes gradually over time as we study and learn His Word (His ways). The Word says that God is Love in I John 4:16. So, if we pour enough of God into our lives and spirits...we will automatically love more like He loves. It is what naturally happens as we submit our lives to Him and His will. We grow the "fruit" of love.

We cannot beat ourselves up when we fail. The enemy would love that. We must press on. Make it a point to read I Corinthians 13 as often as you can. Get it in you. And PRAY!

Note: All Scripture was taken from the Amplified Translation.

In a Moment of Time...It can all be gone.

I just experienced one of those "defining moments." Let me explain...

I live DIRECTLY across the street from a convenience store/gas station. And today, I could've died.

I was busy cooking dinner when the dog began to bark persistently. Someone was banging on the back door. I looked and it was the lady next door. She was frantic. She yelled, "get the kids and get out, FIRE!"

Apparently a car had caught on fire right next to the gas pump and the fire men could not get it out. There was REAL concern that the pumps could blow. I walked into the house calm on the outside and panicked on the inside...I needed to GET OUT. I told my 12 year old to get the baby and both of their baby dolls and then I grabbed my 20 + pound cat, my 10 pound cat, and my mini Yorkie and slammed them into crates. Then I put everything into the car and drove away.

I was crying on the inside...It took EVERYTRHING in me not to lose it in front of my girls...Then I realized something...I didn't care about ANYTHING in the house. The only thing that mattered was that my babies (and their little babies ;) were safe. And the animals, of course.

Honestly, I was surprised that I didn't go for the pictures and stuff. You see, when we were getting ready for the hurricanes two years ago, I made sure all that "materialistic" stuff was safe. However, when put in a GO NOW situation, that "stuff" didn't even cross my mind. And you know what? The only regret my 12 year old had was not grabbing her BIBLE! WOW! Praise the Lord!

I guess I am sharing all of this to remind you what the Word says...(I can't think of the reference right now...) Where your treasure is there your heart will be also...

Don't hang onto your "stuff" so tightly that you can't live without it...it doesn't matter...you can't take it with you...We should only be concerned with the children God gave us, souls, and Him! Because when push comes to shove...all that "stuff" is worthless without God, our children, and the Blood of Jesus Christ!

Oh, and PRAISE THE LORD!!! No one was hurt...just a car!

The Two Most Important Commandments - Love (part 3)

HIS GOODNESS

Oh, yes, the Lord is Good. I can think of countless situations in my life where His goodness, (manifested in compassion, mercy, and forgiveness) brought me out of very dark places. You should take some time to meditate every day on the goodness He has shown to you in your life.

No time? Yes, there is. In the shower, driving here and there, as you lay in bed, blow drying your hair, putting make up on, cooking dinner, washing dishes, get up earlier, go to bed later, and right now. We say, “we don't have time." Yes, we do. We should always find time to think about the goodness of God and praise His Holy Name!

The Bible has many Scriptures on the Goodness of God. I have listed a few of my favorites.

Titus 3:4-6 ...when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior to man appeared, He saved us, not because of any righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy...

Psalm 31:19 Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear, revere, and worship You. Goodness which You have wrought for those who trust and take refuge in You before the sons of men!

Acts 14:17 Yet He did not neglect to leave some witness of Himself, for He did you good and showed you kindness and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with nourishment and happiness.

Psalm 145:7-9 They shall pour forth like a fountain the fame of Your great and abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of Your rightness and justice. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving-kindness. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works, the entirety of His creation.

Psalm 86:5 For You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive our trespasses, letting them go completely and forever; and You are abundant in mercy and loving-kindness to all those who call upon You.

And let's not forget the Israelites in the Book of Exodus. They wandered around the desert for forty years...griping, complaining, unthankful, and unfaithful. Yet, our loving and merciful God still fed them every day, kept them safe, and even prevented their shoes from aging!

God is GOOD! We should never forget His goodness. If we would just reflect on His goodness in our lives and the Scriptures...we would have a whole lot more peace.

The Two Most Important Commandments - Love (part 2)

Why Should We Love Him?

I'm sure this would seem like an obvious answer. Yet, I think it is important that we really understand the depth of the answer. Why do we or why should we love God? Well, there are more answers to this question then could be answered in a lifetime. But, I will give the best answer I can...

- HE IS INCOMPARABLE. THERE IS NONE LIKE HIM: II Samuel 7:22 says; Therefore You are great, O Lord God; for none is like You, nor is there any God besides You... No other religion has a God like ours. HE IS!

- HIS WAYS ARE PERFECT. HE IS PERFECT: Psalm 18:30 says; As for God, His way is perfect!

- HE IS OUR ROCK AND SHIELD: Psalm 18:30-31 says; ...He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him. For who is God except the Lord? Or who is the Rock save our God? It says it right there...if we will take refuge...He will shield us. How many of us actually take refuge in Him?

- HE IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS: This is covered in Genesis 1. Isaiah 40:12, 22 & 26 as well as countless other verses. What other God created the Universe?

- HE IS EVERLASTING: Habakkuk 3:6 says; He stood and measured the earth; He looked and shook the nations, and the eternal mountains were scattered and the perpetual hills bowed low. His ways are everlasting and His goings are of old.

- HE IS JUST, TRUE, MIGHTY AND SOVEREIGN: Revelation 15:3 says; ...Mighty and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God the Omnipotent! Just and true are Your ways, O Sovereign of the ages. Sing that for a while and you'll feel His presence all around you.

- HE IS MY STRENGTH AND MY SONG: When I am weak I know I can count on Him to be my Strength. Exodus 15:2 says; The Lord is my Strength and my Song....Keep reading that chapter alone for many reasons to love Him.

- HE LOVED US FIRST: I John 4:19 says; We love Him, because He first loved us.

- HE IS OMNIPOTENT (ALL-POWERFUL): Jeremiah 32:17 says; Alas, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too hard for you.

- HE IS OMNIPRESENT (EVER-PRESENT): Read Psalm 139:7-12. He is always here...He is always there. You are never alone. What other "god" can say that?

- HE IS OMNISCIENCE (ALL-KNOWING): I John 3:20 says; ...For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows and understands everything, nothing is hidden from Him.

These aren’t even the tip of the iceberg...There is not enough time or words to tell all the reasons to love our God. He is The Great I Am, The King of Kings, The Lord of Lords, Jehovah-jireh (my Provider), Jehovah-nissi (He reigns in victory), Jehovah-shalom (my Peace), God Almighty, Heavenly Father, Abba (Father), Holy, Loving, Kind, Gentle, Patient, Worthy, Good, Gracious.....

Do you see what I mean? I really could go on forever.

There is however, another area of "Why" that we will talk about next time...

The Two Most Important Commandments - LOVE (part 1)

I want to share an article that I wrote for Moms of Faith.
I will post it in several segments...


Love is mentioned well over 350 times in the Bible. I'm sure God must be trying to tell us something. We will start our study with Matthew 22:37-38; And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the most important and first commandment.

I am sure that we have all heard this verse many times in our Christian lives. But, do we really get it? How do we love God? Why should we love God? Let's explore How to love God today, and tomorrow we'll get into why.

How Do We Love Him?

It is very simply stated by Jesus in John 14:15, If you really love me, you will keep (obey) my commands. As simple as it sounds....it seems to be a very difficult task....or is it? Well, yes and no. If we study the Word, get it into our hearts and minds; it is easier to submit to the Holy Spirit...

However, when we fill our minds with the world, i.e.,

Soap Operas - which encourage adultery, lust, impurity, fornication, lies, deceit, and many other sinful desires. I struggled with these for years. I didn't just watch one...not even just one channel. I would watch one channel and tape another. I was watching six different daytime dramas and several evening ones. I eventually cut back and convinced myself that was good enough. But, no, God wanted me to lay them all down. My mind had become so absorbed with this unrealistic, ungodly world. I didn't want to let go. Of course I eventually did...not without a fight though. The enemy was on full attack mode when I decided to submit to the Lord (obey His commands). I kid you not my TV would just turn on at the precise moment, my VCR would start taping when I didn't set it to, and the grocery store checkout...It was ugly. I didn't give up...and now I am FREE!

Entertainment Magazines - which are filled with gossip, wrong information, slander, hurtful situations in human lives, and really none of our business anyway. These were another stronghold in my life. My favorite was In Touch...or like my husband used to call it, "in touch with the devil." LOL. Let me tell you, I loved these things. I had to know who was cheating on whom, and what this one said about that one....I'm sure there are some of you who know exactly what I am talking about.

Guess what? God wanted these put down too. My flesh fought hard. Honestly, I still have to catch myself. Those grocery store checkout lines are filled with them...I try hard not to even look at them. I am happy to say that I no longer buy them...or even touch them.

Secular music - which is mostly provocative lyrics, self, and worldly principals.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that every non-Christian song is sinful. I'm saying be careful what goes in. It will come out. The Bible says in Galatians 6:7 that we reap what we sow. If we sow junk into our minds we will reap junk. If your searching through the stations looking for a good song to listen to...make sure it is good for your spirit not your flesh.

These examples are ones many Christian women face. You may be thinking I have gone too far...I don't know what I'm talking about. Yes, I do. I know because the Word tells me so.

In I John 2:15 it says, Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. if anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life or stability of earthly things - these do not come from the Father, but are from the world itself. And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides forever.

Next time we will discuss WHY we should love God...


Note: All Scripture was taken from the Amplified Translation.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (KJV)

I was getting ready to take my girls for a walk today and I had the hardest time finding my shoes and then my keys. It took us a good ten to fifteen minutes. LOL...

Anyway, we finally got out the door. It looked a bit cloudy, but I figured we would be OK. Well, we didn't even get one minute into our walk and it started to rain. So, we ran back to the house and decided to go to the grocery store instead.

From the back seat my 12 year old daughter said, "See Mom, all things work for the good to those that love the Lord. If you didn't misplace your shoes and keys, we would have gotten soaken wet!"

I was stunned by her child like obersavation and how wise and trusting of the Word that it truely was. And you know what? She's right!

We forget this Scripture in our day to day lives....ALL things...not just the big stuff, but the little stuff too. God is always working things out in our favor. Sometimes it takes a child to point out what should be obvious.

I am encouraging you and myself to look for these moments in our lives. Take the time to "see" all the ways God works things our for us....big AND small!

Have a wonderful morning, afternoon, and evening!

Lara ;)

Be a Doer of the Word

Matthew 7:24-29

So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock.

And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the sand.

And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell--and great and complete was the fall of it.

When Jesus had finished these sayings [the Sermon on the Mount], the crowds were astonished and overwhelmed with bewildered wonder at His teaching,

For He was teaching as One Who had [and was] authority, and not as [did] the scribes.

We must be doers of the Word. If we only listen and then go out and contradict what we have learned with our lifestyle, then we are not living the way we should. We must walk the walk. We must be obedient children.

I would like to give you two assignments for the day...

First, PRAY. On and off, under your breath, out loud, ALL day. Seek God, and ask Him to show you the areas in your life that HE wants you to submit, lay down, improve, and/or work on. Then...DO it!

Second, read and meditate on James 1:21-25

Let's Pray,

Daddy God, thank You for making Your Will clear through your life giving Word. Help me to submit to You and be a DOER of the Word and not just a hearer. Help me to walk the walk before my children and live my life completely and totally consecrated to You and YOUR Will. Please show me ANY areas of my life that are out of Your Will for me and I will GLADLY lay them down. Thank You for loving me and teaching me. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,

Lara ;)

Here is my devotional that I posted on the site...

Matthew 7:21-23

Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.

Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name?

And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly disregarding My commands.

We don't like to hear Scriptures like this. I makes us uncomfortable. Unfortunately, ignoring them does NOT make them go away and does NOT help us.

I tried to find a loop hole, Ladies. I looked up every word. It is what it is.
We MUST live our lives the way we are called to. It is unwise and foolish to willfully live in sin and try to 1 John 1:9 it or claim the "grace" card. Don't misunderstand me, God WILL forgive us when we sin. However, when we willingly CHOOSE to reject His Word and adapt it to society we are playing a VERY dangerous game.

Galatians 6:7 says; Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap.

We are NOT called to live fleshly carnal lives.

We are NOT called to be imitators of this world.

We are NOT called to change the Word to fit with "the times."

We are NOT called to be friends of this world.


We ARE called to be a LIGHT in a dark world.

We ARE called to be aliens waiting to go home.

We ARE called to speak the Truth.

We ARE called to stand up for the Truth.

We ARE called to SUBMIT and OBEY God's Word.

We ARE called to live a CONSECRATED life.

Let's STOP making excuses to sin and START shining the light of TRUTH. Let's get into alignment and start listening to Daddy's voice.