Fun Fall Fashion

Whenever I think of fall I think of cozy sweaters, lots of scarves, and adorable and fun fall fashion! Isn't it fun to be a girl? *smiles*

What are your favorite things to wear in the fall? 

P.S.- We are looking for pictures of your favorite Thanksgiving outfits for an upcoming post! If you would like to submit a picture send us an email at: graceengaged@gmail.com!

Happy Tuesday y'all!!

Meditating On and Memorizing Scripture- Journal Ideas

Today I (Rebecca) wanted to share a subject that is precious to my heart- spending time meditating on scripture. Over the years I have studied scripture in different ways. In college Theology was my major and became the deepest study of my life. After college I felt incredibly blessed to have had the foundation of theology so that the relationship that I cultivated with the Lord grew more and more and was beyond just being based on emotion. I loved having the opportunity to study and understand the Bible and memorize scripture. The truth is I still  love getting into God's word everyday - and I see how "living" His word is in so many ways.

But one area that I used to struggle with is on memorizing scripture. Do any of you struggle with this to?  Honestly I would try so hard in my quiet time with the Lord but I just struggled. Memorization has not always come easy to me and I would marvel at those who seemed to be able to quote entire books of the Bible with no problem! 

Several years ago I came across Psalm 119:11 which states, "your word I have treasured in my heart" and immediately I was convicted as I wanted to memorize and treasure God's word in my heart. I started to pray about how I could memorize scripture better. I started thinking about how I am "wired" and how I could meditate on scripture so that it truly went deep into my heart. I bought a new Bible (I will share more about this in the future) and since I am a "journal writer/drawer/alterer" I knew that for me I needed to do something artistic with scripture.  I have found by writing, drawing, paining, and scrapbooking into a journal I have been able to truly mediate and memorize scripture. Here are a few examples:

One of my favorite projects I have done is to cut up strips of paper and then write down all of my fears, worries, or concerns. I then paint over them and then write scripture truths on top of that. I have done this many times and it is a beautiful way to treasure God's word in my heart.

{the picture below was an attempt at making a flower out of all of that *smiles*}

Sometimes I like to decorate certain words that are really speaking to me and things that are going on in my life!

I love cute stickers so sometimes I like to use them to write out the words of the scripture verse I am memorizing or meditating on. 

A couple of years ago I was on a precious trip with a senior class and I came across a precious and simple verse from Ezekiel. It was perfect for the time as I was struck by the hope, promise, and security that the verse promised.  At the time I had no idea that in the upcoming year I would be diagnosed with Advanced Late Stage Lyme Disease and Cancer but the Lord was already writing this precious truth on my heart for the future! I spent time journaling it but I also "paper sewed" it into my journal. To this day it is still one of my favorite verses I have ever memorized!!

Last year I wanted to write down scriptures that I am praying for a dear friend of mine. I have also been working on memorizing these scriptures so this was a fun project I found the perfect picture frame to do this with and I love how it turned out!

These are just a few of the small ways that I meditate and memorize scripture through journaling. Some other ways I will show you in the upcoming weeks but in the meantime I would love to know if y'all use journaling to help meditate on scripture and memorize it?

Senior Year Anxiety

Two months into my senior year of college, I am having some serious flashbacks to how

I felt my senior year of high school. The future seems so demanding and I can’t even

think about what I am going to eat for lunch tomorrow without getting stressed. I

immediately turn to calendars and planning out each day down to the minute to try and

find some sort of stability in a phase of such uncertainty.

In some of the more anxiety-filled moments, I love listening to the song “Captain” by

Hillsong United. Part of the chorus says:

“Like the stars Your Word will align my voyage,

And remind me where I’ve been and where I am going

Lost in the shallows amidst fear and fog,

Your truth is the compass that points me back north”

These lyrics remind us that the Lord has a plan for our future even when all we see in

front of us is fog and confusion. The song echos Proverbs 3:5-6 promising that God can

be trusted even when we can’t make sense of the situation. As an added bonus, He directs

us through the future as we remain focused on Him.

I wish I could tell you exactly what next year holds for you and what your life will look

like in 5 years, but there is so much beauty found in taking each day boldly, trusting that

your future will work out just fine- not because of incessant planning, but because you

are the daughter of a Father who delights in laying the path before you.

Monthly Scripture Memory Program: October (Ephesians 2:8)

As we shared in September, one of the heartbeats of Grace Engaged is the scripture memory program that we hope y'all will join in with each month! Each school year we will be picking one "theme" to look at in scripture and for the 2015-2016 school year we have chosen "grace" as our theme. For the month of September we memorized a portion of 2 Corinthians 8:7 and for October we are memorizing a portion of Ephesians 2:8 which states, "For it is by Grace you have been saved."

One of the things that we are passionate about here at Grace Engaged is encouraging ladies to know that our only hope of salvation is through the grace that God offered through Jesus Christ alone. If our hope is placed in anything besides Jesus Christ and His finishing work on the cross then we have no hope. Nothing that we can do - no matter how wonderful or awesome it may be will save us. 

As women I think we often feel pressure in our society to look a certain way, dress a certain way, act a certain way, etc., but the wonderful news about the gospel is that there is nothing that we can do to earn this beautiful gift of salvation. Instead, it is entirely a gift of grace from God that saves us. Isn't this the most beautiful part of the gospel? We have received the opposite of what we have deserved and it is a gift given to us free of charge. Jesus Christ paid our debt completely on the cross and it is by grace we have been saved. 

I once heard a pastor define GRACE as: "God's Riches at Christ's Expense". Isn't this a beautiful reminder that it is Jesus Christ who paid our debt completely? Throughout this month of October, let us memorize this verse and imprint it on our hearts and in our minds. Let us live our lives in thankful humility for the one who has given us everything! 

Happy October y'all!