Monday Morning Encouragement -- God's Great Love

 

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." 

Ephesians 2:4-7

I don't doubt God's love for me. When I consider how unworthy I am of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, the horrific suffering He endured to save me from the consequences of my sin, I know He loves me, and I rejoice in His love.

Without Jesus I would be lost and hopeless. I know this because that's how my life was before I surrendered to Him.

God pursues us because He loves us, and He loves us not because we are lovable. 

Monday Morning Encouragement -- The Best Place Possible

 

"Straightening up, Jesus said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.'" John 8:10-11

Throughout Jesus' ministry the Scribes and Pharisees did their best to discredit Him. This time they brought a woman caught in the act of adultery to the Lord, asking Him if He would uphold the law that gave death as a penalty for her sin (Leviticus 20:10, Deuteronomy 22:22). 

It's interesting that the man involved with the woman does not appear to be present. The Mosaic Law stated that both the woman and the man must die. Why didn't the accusers bring her partner to the Lord, as well? 

Thrifted Crate Flipped for Fall

 

Today I'm sharing a thrift flip with you. And honestly, I'm kind of excited about the way it turned out. It's something that can be displayed throughout the year, and right now it's styled for fall.

A while ago I bought a small crate for $2 at the thrift store. It apparently had been used as a wall shelf with little cup hooks attached (one was missing).

Monday Morning Encouragement -- Press On

 

"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."       Philippians 3:13-14

If anyone had reason to believe he had "made it", it was the Apostle Paul. A great evangelist, church planter, exhorter, mentor. Paul did it all and did it well. But after all his years of faithful service, he still did not see himself as having been transformed into the image of Christ -- of knowing "Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death" (Philippians 3:10).

He didn't elaborate on where he didn't measure up, he simply stated that he hadn't yet arrived. Paul always sought to grow in his faith, to press on toward everything to which Christ had called him. And the closer he grew to Christ, the more humble he became. 

Monday Morning Encouragement -- The Spirit of Truth

 

"When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me," John 15:26

Is there any doubt that the third person of the Trinity -- the Holy Spirit -- is critical in the life of a Christian? We need His truth to undergird us and give us the strength we need to stand up and refuse to believe the lies the world feeds us every day. 

Fall Decor In The Kitchen

 

Fall has officially arrived, and right on que our Colorado weather did a flip. We went from 90 degrees on Tuesday to 64 degrees and rain yesterday and today. It's okay, though. The cooler temps mean turning on the oven is acceptable again. At least for the next 24 hours. It'll be back in the 80's by the weekend.

Either way, fall decorating has begun here at A Joyful Cottage, and I'm ready to share some of the kitchen decor.

Monday Morning Encouragement -- I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel

 

Source: Heartlight.org

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'" Romans 1:16-17

As I grow older, the gospel of Jesus Christ becomes more dear to me. For today I know that I'm closer to seeing my Savior than I was yesterday. And I can honestly say that I have no fear in facing Him. Have I lived a perfect Christian life? No! Far from it. And that's what makes the gospel so precious to me, and why I'm not ashamed of it. It is the perfect life of Christ and His sacrifice on the cross for my sin -- my imperfections -- that I claim for my salvation. My sins are great. My Savior is greater!

Grab the Drop Cloth and Let's Make a Fall Rag Wreath!

 

When one of my favorite Youtubers featured a DIY drop cloth rag wreath during her fall decor video, this crafty girl knew she had found her 2022 fall door wreath.

This is a budget-friendly, easy-to-make wreath and no glue is required. It works with just about any decor style: shabby chic, cottage, farmhouse, boho, coastal. . .you name it. 

If you're interested in making a wreath like this, then read on for a quick tutorial.

Monday Morning Encouragement -- My Portion Forever

 

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26

We have all heard or read stories about the heroes of September 11, 2001. People who sacrificed their own lives to save the lives of others during the devastating terrorist attack on the twin towers. Their stories touch our hearts and inspire us.

The story of bond trader Al Braca is one that should stir the heart of every Christian, and inspire us to be ready to share the gospel whenever God appoints the time.

Guest Bath Progress

My guest bath project made significant progress last week. On Monday the electrician installed the new light fixture. Then, on Thursday my counter top guy came and replaced the old vanity top with the new one. The plumber, who was also onsite at the time, installed the new sink and faucet, as well as the new toilet.

Just to remind you of how the bathroom looked prior to these changes, here's the before photo.

Monday Morning Encouragement -- God's Sovereignty

 

“How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears."

2 Samuel 7:22

When I was a young Christian, God's sovereignty was one of His attributes that I struggled to appreciate. Truthfully, I didn't like it much. My desire to control situations was in complete conflict with the sovereignty -- the supreme authority -- of God.

I believe the desire to control what happens to us is pretty common among most people, especially those who have no relationship with Jesus. And yet, no matter if we believe in God or not, we have to admit that control is something that sooner or later everyone will have to relinquish.