Think you can't forgive that one person who hurt you really bad?

THINK AGAIN!

Tonight was a HUGE step for me....Let me give a brief history...

Last year there was a dispute between a leader in children's ministry (at my church) and myself. I was going to bat for an injustice against my daughter and lost the fight. I prayed and prayed and prayed...no grace was given from the lady in charge. She seemed to be a very cold hearted person...

I still feel that she was wrong and unkind...no, I KNOW she was. HOWEVER, God allowed my daughter...and our whole family to go through this VERY hurtful situation for a greater purpose. And it has taken almost a year for me to finally understand what that purpose was.

Forgiveness...We all get it freely from the Father...but do we freely give it?

Fast forward to tonight...

I was invited to come to a couples group from church and that lady would be there. I haven't seen her since our awful confrontation almost a year ago.

Anyway, it was VERY difficult to go...but I did...AND...there was a miraculous light bulb moment! During the praise and worship God completely cleansed me and I forgave her in my heart. I even had nice feelings towards her!

You must understand....this woman DEEPLY hurt my daughter...my husband...and myself. It was a VERY difficult thing to come to terms with. I was very angry...you know the Mother hen type of anger?

I asked God to scold her. Silence. I asked God to help me. Silence. I begged God to help me forgive her. Silence. I did not give up though. And when the opportunity came to be in a room with her again...I didn't run and hide like I wanted to. I stood tall...asked for Daddy's help...and GOT THE VICTORY!!!

Are you struggling with forgiving someone? Have you asked and asked and asked? Your answer may be right under your nose...your answer may be this...

How willing are you to forgive? How willing are you to make the first move? How willing are you to be vulnerable? If you are willing, like I was...your victory is right before you...just reach out and GRAB IT!!

God Bless YOU!!

Walking in His forgiveness...and freely giving mine,

Lara ;)

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it for death or life. Proverbs 18:21

I think it's important that we really get this Scripture. Our tongue is VERY powerful. It can produce life or death...our choice.

If you are someone who spends a lot of time...

~ Bad mouthing yourself by saying things like; I'm stupid, I'm fat, I'm ugly, I'll never, I can't, What's wrong with me, I'm such a this and I'm such a that...

~ Verbally judging others....

~ Speaking negatively...


Then you will produce the fruit of death in your life. We need to speak the Truth about ourselves. We need to understand who we are in Christ.

We need to say things like...

~ I have the mind of Christ, which means I am pretty smart.

~ I was created in the image of God, which means I am GORGEOUS!

~ I can do ALL things through Christ Who strengthens me.


If we speak the Truth of what God says about us over our lives, we will produce an awesome harvest of life, and be much happier, filled with peace, and able to go the distance.

Start thinking BEFORE you speak. Change your mind and speak the Truth...even if you don't believe it with your "mind" right away. After speaking Life for a while, you will not only begin to believe the Truth, you will KNOW the Truth, and the Truth WILL set you free!

This wasn't my brilliant idea...it's in the WORD, and the God does NOT lie! Trust God...believe what God says about you in His Word...know who you are...and SPEAK IT OUT LOUD!

Let's Pray,

Daddy God, thank You for giving me the opportunity to change my life for the better simply by putting the principals of Your Mighty Word into daily practice. Please help me to remember Your Truth and to speak it out every day. I am Your precious baby girl and I want to WALK in the knowledge of that. Thank You! In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,
Lara ;)

Be Anxious for Nothing

In the Webster's dictionary anxious means...full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; worried. The thesaurus had an even clearer picture...tense, uptight, troubled, disquieted, concerned, fretful, alarmed, over-wrought, anguished, and fearful.

This does not sound like an emotion that is pleasant to live with. Today, we will discuss what Jesus said about anxiety in Luke 12:22-30...

And Jesus said to His disciples, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious and troubled with cares about your life, as to what you will have to eat; or about your body, as to what you will have to wear.

When financial troubles come, we quickly forget that our God cares for us, and wants to provide for our needs. When we worry and fret about what we will eat, how we will clothe our children, and troubling situations in our lives, we are hindering the help that He so longs to provide us with. It does not just fall in our laps. We must have faith. If Jesus says not to be anxious, then we should obey and not worry. We must trust Him.

For life is more than food, and the body [more] than clothes.

This is very true...our lives here are just a grain of sand in the vast Universe. There are more pressing matters...like the salvation of the lost.

Observe and consider the ravens; for they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn; and [yet] God feeds them. Of how much more worth are you than the birds!

Have you ever seen a bird falling apart over what it will eat or how it will find it's next meal. Have you ever seen them afraid to fly? There feathers are never in a ruffle...ever. They know the Creator has already provided. And if He has already provided for the birds...don't you think He has you covered? You are after all one of His precious daughters.

And which of you by being overly anxious and troubled with cares can add a cubit to his stature or a moment [unit] of time to his age [the length of his life]?
The only thing we will do by living lives with worry and anxiety is shorten our days.

If then you are not able to do such a little thing as that, why are you anxious and troubled with cares about the rest?

This verse just shows the awesome power of Almighty God. To Him, adding time to a life is a simple task. If we would just realize that He really is that powerful...why would we worry about the rest?

Consider the lilies, how they grow. They neither [wearily] toil nor spin nor weave; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory (his splendor and magnificence) was not arrayed like one of these.

But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today, and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O you [people] of little faith?

Think about the beauty of a flower. He put such care into each kind of flower. They are all so different...yet beautiful. Shouldn't we have faith enough to know that He would clothe His own children?

And you, do not seek [by meditating and reasoning to inquire into] what you are to eat and what you are to drink; nor be of anxious (troubled) mind unsettled, excited, worried, and in suspense;

This takes it beyond mere food and clothing. When you are anxious about a pregnancy, health of a loved one, a business venture, your car starting, money to fix the car, money period, a test result, when your children are away from you, etc. (If your issue was not mentioned...it still counts! ;)

You need not worry for nothing!

For all the pagan world is [greedily] seeking these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

Your Daddy knows what you need. Trust Him.

I am leaving you with two more Scriptures that I want you to read. These Scriptures will back up what Jesus is saying in Luke. They will give you more confirmation that you do not have to be anxious for any of life's circumstances!

Philippians 4:6 ~ Do not worry about anything!

I Peter 5:7 ~ Cast your cares! He wants them!

When worry threatens to knock on the door of your mind pull these Scriptures out and speak them OUT LOUD over your circumstances. Those little worry demons will go running...And when the forget Who's you are and come back...pull those weapons out again and repeat!

Let's pray,

Daddy God, thank You for taking care of me. Thank You for supplying all of my needs. Thank You for caring about the things that matter to me. Thank You for wanting my burdens so that I don't have to carry the load. Lord, I can't carry the load any longer. Please take the burden of (fill in the blank). I just give it to You. I trust You with it. Thank You for loving me enough to take this burden from me. I choose to cast my cares on You! Praise Your Holy Name! In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

I'm letting go of worry...won't you join me?

Worry Free,
Lara ;)

Do you know what you are up against?

Ephesians 6:12-13

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against the master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day of danger, and, having done all to stand firmly in your place.

It is EXTREMELY important that we understand that we are NOT dealing with what we see. Demons and evil are VERY real. The devil is not just a metaphor. He is very real, hates you very much, and is out to get you.

Evil spiritual forces are whirling all around us, from the pulpit to the government. We MUST learn to recognize the enemy at work, and learn how to fight!

Following are some examples of the enemy at work today...

~ Division: Strife, disagreements, and the like are crippling to the Church. And the enemy knows this. He is very aware of what unity can do for his cause. So, he and his slimy followers work overtime to divide...divide...divide...They help divide marriages, friendships, family, and the Church as a whole.

Take Action! FORGIVE QUICKLY!
(Matthew 6:14-15; 2 Timothy 2:23-24)

~ Apathy: We have a Church that does not fight for righteousness. If it did then we would not be a society over run with pornography, endorsement of homosexual lifestyles, sexually charged entertainment, and the like. It's like the Church keeps hitting the snooze button and the early bird (devil) is getting the worm.

Take Action! WAKE UP!
(2 Timothy 2:25-26; Revelation 3:15-16)

~ Distraction: We live in a very fast paced society. Everyone is busy. Everyone has places to go and people to see. How many Christians have an active daily prayer life? Read the Word consistently? Are actively involved in their Father's business?

Have you ever "planned" to read your Bible or pray, and then go distracted? Or said, "I just don't get this...I don't have time...I can't "get into" this..." ? The enemy is helping you my dear sisters. He will do EVERYTHING he can...He will pull out ALL the stops to get you to believe that it's OK to just "be good." It is a FATAL lie!

Take Action!

READ the WORD...EVERY day!
(Psalm 37:4; 2 Timothy 2:15; Philippians 1:10-11; Hebrews 12:11)

PRAY...EVERY day!
(2 Chronicles 7:14; Ephesians 6:18; James 5:16b; 1 Peter 3:12, 14)

We MUST! If we do not, we are playing right into the slime balls hands.

Let's Pray,

Daddy God, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for loving me enough to take the time to send Your Word. And to warn me of what I am dealing with. Help me to learn. Help me to recognize the enemy when he is at work in my life. Help me to take action. I love You, Lord. I do not want to be a "luke warm" Christian. I want to be on fire for You and Your Truth. I need You. I can't do it without You. Thank You, Daddy. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,

Lara ;)