Forever Beloved

Faith, Love & Truth

30 Days of Thankful

I LOVE LOVE this idea. I’ve done this for the past couple years and I’m going to this year as well. I love this time of year and how it makes me feel sooooooo warm, cozy, grateful, thankful and LOVED. I’m going to do mine with a photo a day here on my blog. Hopefully you can play along. And if you do, share it with me in the comments section!

Today I am thankful that my sins are forgiven thanks to Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord. And for His undeserving grace He shows me daily. Without Him, my life would be a broken mess. I’m super thankful He has taken me and molded me into the Christian woman I am and for the hand He has had in my life since the moment I was born.  Super thankful that even though people may fail me, He never will!!

Happy Halloween

Messy Mascara Days

This week has been hard y’all.  It’s been a broken down, runny mascara week full of broken promises and an aching heart.  
As a family, we made a choice.  We chose to stick to our morals, values and ethics in spite of being begged by a family member to do otherwise.  We chose to not be conformed by the ways of the world.  We chose to do the right thing, even though no one would have known if we did the wrong thing.  As a result of our choice, this {close} family member has chosen to ostracize us from his life.  Not just quietly criticize our decision, but publicly announce it on social media. Ouch.
We’ve always striven to instill integrity in our littles.  CS Lewis described integrity as doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.  Oh, how true this is.  Integrity is striving to be honest and just.  If we don’t give our littles a strong, ethical foundation then who will?  That’s right, the world would instill their values on them.  And y’all know we surely don’t want that!  
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2

Being a follower of Christ means we should be set apart from the world. We should be striving to live a holy, righteous life to be set apart.  And as much as the world wants us to engage in sinful activities, as Christ followers we just can’t.  

But just because someone has wronged us {or ostracized us from their life} doesn’t mean we should be bitter and full of resentment.  Let me first say, if there is one thing I’m good at it’s holding a grudge. Actually, I might even be considered a professional grudge holder. Forgiveness, no matter who it is directed to, is something that just doesn’t come easily to me. 
How would Jesus want us to handle it?  Be kinder than we feel.  Is that hard?  Absolutely!  But we all know with God anything is possible.  Luke 6:35 says to love our enemies, do good to them and our reward will be great if we extend mercy.  It’s hard to ignore the Bible and His Word y’all.