Uh Oh, Princess Lara Disappeared Again!

Uh oh, I disappeared again - for about a month. Actually, I did not truly disappear. The Lord gave me a wonderful project and took me for a big adventure in the wilderness to learn how to truly focus on Him and to start and complete the project He assigned me. In the process, I learned I have to be very careful with taking on too much and even more careful with learning how to stay focused. Toward that end, for the time being, I will make regular "appearances" with inspirational writings and updates at Walk by Faith Ministry (www.walkbyfaithministry.com) rather than here to keep things simple - and focused! But who knows, the Lord may well send me right back here. He likes to keep me on my toes with His ongoing surprises. About the project He gave me to complete while I visited the wilderness? A book! Please visit Walk by Faith Ministry (www.walkbyfaithministry.com) to learn about the ministry's first book - and my first book in print. If you have read my testimony, I pray you will rejoice with me in reading the book and seeing what the Lord has birthed through me! 

The Whining Princess

Have you ever heard a princess whine? I have! I have known and heard myself long enough to know I became an expert long ago at exactly what the children of Israel were criticized by God for doing once they were released from bondage in Egypt: they moaned, murmured, and complained. Guess what?! I know all about that. I have had a propensity my whole princess life to do exactly that, and sadly I did not realize that I was creating my own world to complain about with my precocious princess mouth - and my pretty princess mind. Every time I whined and complained, I brought myself down. Every time I murmured, I made my life just that much worse. Oh, sure, I have had long stretches of time without much murmuring. Well, sort of. At those times, I made a point of pointing out somebody else's negativity. Today, God stopped me in my tracks. Quite literally. First, He told me to rest. Yuck. Oh, how I hate to slow down when I don't want to slow down. Thankfully, as I put my foot on my own brakes, and began my slow-down, the Lord spoke again.

"Change your attitude, and I'll change your life," He told me.

Go figure. I had asked Him to give me the life He has planned for me all along. I have been complaining for several years that I do not feel I am living the life He intended.

First, He told me He would change my heart rather than my circumstances, and that He would use my circumstances to change my heart.

Now, just this very day, the Lord told His precious princess that it's high royal time His little princess change her attitude.

Why? He wants to change my life. And, quite frankly, as I can readily attest to, my mouth and my mind, forming a not so pretty attitude, have been standing in the way of my life!

How about you? Need an attitude adjustment? 

Update from HIS PRINCESS!

If you are wondering what the heck happened to Princess Lara who promised to write and publish Created to be His Princess, please know I am alive and well - and thrilled to say I am deeply immersed in serving His Royal Highness - the Lord! If you would like to learn more about what I've been up to, please visit http://www.walkbyfaithministry.com. In the meantime, I promise to be back here when the Lord sends me. If you think being His Princess is all about sitting back and watching the world go by, think again! He didn't create His Princesses to sit on the sidelines. He created us to love & serve Him, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Be blessed, fellow Princesses! 

My Princess Pest

Every princess needs a pest, and the very best kind is a pretty princess pest. God gave me mine two years ago when I received a letter from my husband informing me he had decided to divorce me. I broke down right in the yard where I was reading the letter, and oddly - and automatically - I called a brand new friend of mine to tell her. Why did I call her when I had a zillion other friends? I have no idea. But I know this. God had sent my pretty princess pest to me without my knowing what He would have in store for us both.

From that day forward, my new friend became my pest. When I was at my worst, she was at her best. She called me left and right. She made absolutely certain I would not slip through the cracks. She reached out when I did not. Little did I know my princess pest friend would also become one of the best friends I have ever had on this earth.

Two years later now, we have both grown beyond description. We share laughs, prayers, tears, troubles, and triumphs. Most important of all, we share a love for Jesus Christ above all else. My pretty princess pest is also my writing angel. She give me a good old-fashioned kick in the butt when I am not staying true to my commitment to write for the Lord. Every princess really does need a pest, and if every princess were as fortunate as I am - every princess would also end up with a cherished friend.

Just a few days ago, I called up my princess friend and shared with her the last letter I will ever receive from my husband. It was a final goodbye letter, and tomorrow he will go to court to divorce me. I broke down over the phone. My princess pest asked if I would read her the letter. I did, and the burden lifted off me as she shared it with me.

My pretty princess pest is also a prayer warrior. My advice? If you don't already have a praying pretty princess pest, ask God for one. I wouldn't be surprised if He already has one picked out for you. And, if you get a pest phone call making sure you're okay, or a kick in the butt reminding you to keep your commitments to God, remember you're the one who asked for it.

I wouldn't trade mine for anyone else. Thank you God for my dear friend Annie, praying pretty princess pest, angel, and beloved friend supreme. 

Daughter of the Most High God

I remember the day I finally realized I am a daughter of the most high God. I was exhilarated - beyond description. I could barely fathom that after decades of living like a wounded bird, I had discovered that I had the wings to fly. I had had the wings long before I made this realization, but how could I fly without knowing the wings I possessed. Like so many women I have met, I had spent years looking around me to determine my worth. I had been rejected and abandoned by so many significant men in my life that I could not imagine I had a worth at all. But one day, this bird looked up instead of around - and I saw myself as a daughter of the most high God. Then, eventually, I realized I am also a bride of Christ. With God as my father and Jesus as my husband, I was no longer a wounded worthless bird. I had realized I had the wings to fly. My wings are still wobbly, and I have such a very long way to go. Some days, I forget about my wings and I remain on the ground. Some days, I fly but fall because I look around me once again at the people who have hurt me. But then there are the days I fly and I soar. With my eyes, my heart, and my mind fixed on Jesus my beloved, I remember then who I am. I am a daughter of the most high God.

The Life You Were Meant to Live

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10 KJV)."

 if you know the artist, please let us know
 so we can attribute this anointed work!

Are you living the abundant life God created you to live, or are you living less than His best? If you are not living an abundant life, then you are not living God's best. How do I know? First and foremost, God's Word says so! If your life is full of robbery, death, and destruction, the enemy is running rampant through it. I should know! For decades, this princess didn't think of herself as a princess at all. Plagued by multiple addictions, uncontrollable sin, and sheer hopelessness, I had given the devil free reign in my life. Today, I know I am a princess. And, I know who reigns. Jesus. I am learning to live the abundant life He created me to live. This does not mean I am not challenged with difficult life circumstances, but it does mean that in the midst of them I know who I am. I am His. He keeps me safe in the midst of every storm, and He holds me in His arms forever. I am learning I do not ever have to let Him go because He is my beloved. He is my Prince. He is my abundance. I would not trade Him for any other. The devil came to steal my life. Jesus Christ came to give me life. I have chosen God's best. His name is Jesus. He is my abundant life. Forever. 

Home Alone on New Year's

There is a difference between being home alone and alone with Jesus. I have lived much of my life feeling alone, even in the midst of people around me. I have felt the most alone, however, with nobody around. Even in my early years of learning to follow the Lord, I spent more time alone than I would have liked. I was caught up in religion rather than relationship, and I spent my time trying to "do right" rather than to spend time in the presence of the Lord. In the past two years, I have spent even more time alone - since my husband abandoned me two years ago and my life has been in constant transition and transformation. But this alone has been different. This has been an alone with the Lord. I have learned that the very best place to be is in the presence of Jesus, to sit at His feet, to enjoy His company, to share His love, to feel Him in and around me. So when I make the decision to spend New Year's Eve home alone because I do not want to share the streets with drunk drivers, I can celebrate the evening with the one who created it. Tonight, I will be alone with the Lord. I will readily admit I would love to be surrounded by loved ones, but I did not have that opportunity tonight. Instead, I received the greatest invitation of all. I will spend the night in the arms of my beloved. Jesus.