{Encouraging Monday: Ephesians 2:8-9}

Encouraging Monday:

{Ephesians 2:8-9}

The other day I came across this blog: http://frenchpressmornings.com and I absolutely loved the idea of encouraging others through Bible verses. 

So instead of Wednesday, I want to do Encouraging Mondays! 

Everyone needs a little extra encouragement on Mondays! (But definitely check out her blog because she is amazing and her designs are so cute!) 

So, for my first ever Encouraging Monday, I bring you Ephesians 2:8-9. These verses are actually very special to me because it was one of the first that I memorized in AWANAS when I was younger and still have it memorized to this day. 

-Grace: A gift we don't deserve. 

-Saved through FAITH!

-Not from yourself.

-GIFT from God.

-Not by works.

-No one can boast.

This passage is so very important to the Christian faith. We can not work towards Heaven, Jesus comes to us. He came to us and died on the cross for ME, for you, for all of us. He took all of our sins on Himself, His perfect self, for all of us. Even if you were the ONLY sinner, Jesus still would have died for you. 

The truest form of love.

For you!

And He offers eternal life to us, a FREE gift!

We can NOT work ourselves to Heaven. 

We are called to do good works BECAUSE we are saved, not doing good works to become saved. 

The reason? Because it's not about us. If we had to work towards Heaven, then we would be able to boast about what we have done and what others haven't done. God eliminates that factor because we are called to glorify Him--not focus on ourselves. 

All you have to do is believe that he is Lord&Savior and ask him to come into your life.

I pray that everyone that reads this becomes a little more encouraged today. Maybe it comes at the right moment, maybe an answer to a prayer. Maybe your life is crazy and you can now breathe because you do NOT have to work yourself to Heaven. 

Jesus has already paid the price for you! Hallelujah!!! 

Ps. You can save the image that I created.

Keep it on your phone, your computer, print it out and hang it where you will be able to read it daily. 

Date to New Bern, NC.

North Carolina is beautiful all year round, 

but I truly wish Autumn was year round. 

All twelve months.

 Am I right?!!?

So pretty! I asked Scott if we could pull over and explore this little gem on our way to New Bern. 

Breathtaking.. until your dog is suddenly afraid of the dock. 

Then laughter breaks that moment!

These are a few October pictures around this amazing church, one of my favorite downtown places of New Bern.

Mallow loved being spoiled in the stores that we went into.
 I told the Husband that if I ever own a store--it will be dog friendly&I will have dog treats to hand out.

YES, that would be THE Nicholas Sparks!
Unfortunately, it was not open. Darn it!

Our future home.
{One day..far far away, but one day!}

I mentioned that NC is beautiful in Autumn. I am quite serious that the cotton fields are my absolute favorite part. 

If it wasn't for it being illegal, I was going to steal some. 

Yes, I admit, I did really want to take some that bad. 

God's own southern decorations, and quite unique if I might add. 

Although we had a blast exploring more of New Bern&all of it's autumn-ness, deep in my heart I wanted to be in my mountains with my family hunting. But because I couldn't be-- Here is a SHOUTOUT to my amazing dad and cousin for finding these two beauts!

I have a confession to make...Three months&one day!!!

So, I have a confession to make.

Today has been three months&one day! 

Three months and one day that Scott&I have been together consecutively in the same place. 

What?! And we have been together for three years?! 

{Married for almost a year&a half.}

Yes.

Remember when I left for Australia? That was after dating my hunk for only three life-changing months. Remember when we were first married and moved to North Carolina? There were only three months together before his training for deployment started. We have never been together, in the same place, for longer than three months.

UNTIL NOW!!

I can now see why God allowed us to have a long distance relationship. We would never be able to be "us" the way we are if we had been able to be around each other all the time. We wouldn't be as strong. Wouldn't be as tough. Wouldn't be as close. And definitely  wouldn't be as close to God as we are now, individually&together. 

But I am so thankful that we have started this new chapter of our lives that we can have a NORMAL life together. 

One that has a consistent schedule. 

Sunday school&Church on Sunday, my women's bible study on Tuesday, Youth group on Wednesday, Scott's men's bible study on Thursday, and the weekend date nights! 

Blissful.

Loving.

Serving.

TOGETHER!

It definitely has come with it's own struggles, but I absolutely wouldn't change anything. We feel like newly-newlyweds again because we are learning about each other all over again. Learning again how to live together. Learning how to "fight fair". Learning how to combine schedules. Learning how to create a marriage based on God alone. 

And most importantly--understanding God's purpose of marriage isn't to bring happiness, but to better serve for Him as a couple, together.

God: Thank you for being You, the Great I AM, the only Truth, the One who holds the pen to our story. Thank you for being there for us and with us!

Scott: Thank you so much for serving...but I am so thankful that we are now able to be here, in one place, together!