If you’re new here, welcome!

On Monday mornings I post a “Monday morning encouragement” on my IG page, but today I decided to put it on the blog too. I’m going to start doing this each week because I know a lot of you who have joined me here are not on IG or other social media outlets. (I say good for you by the way!)

Today I would love to encourage you to read Ephesians 2.

I love Ephesians 2 because it reminds us that life is SO much bigger than us… bigger than our own efforts… greater than what we think we need to do to to find favor. And that’s such wonderful rest, especially in this day and age that’s consumed with “achievements.”

Sure, we want to be seen. We want to be happy. We work so hard to be successful. We try to be “enough.” We hope to achieve______. You fill in the blank.

Bur friends, listen to the gift of grace in Ephesians 2:4-10

“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. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

This shows the whole picture of God’s immeasurable love! His great kindness that extends mercy and grace, and tells us of this amazing grace we receive BY FAITH! This reminds us that Jesus IS enough!

And…

THIS is the greatest gift ever. THIS is the rest you’ve been searching for.

We don’t deserve it, and we don’t earn it. None of our “achievements” will help us receive it.

But God, who is rich in mercy, gives us this gift BY FAITH in Jesus Christ.

Our theme for the retreats this year has been “Let us be Found Faithful,” and we’ve really examined Scripture to see how God is so faithful (even when we aren’t) and how we can live faithful lives in our daily walk with Him.

Well, next year we’re going to dig deeper into this gift of grace, BY FAITH, because the theme of our 2024 retreats is going to be:

GRACE.

There is so much to unpack in this mighty, hopeful AND restful word, and I can’t wait to see how the Lord brings us together in the beautiful places we’re headed next year, to talk about His goodness and grace!

I hope you’ll join us on this journey, as we see how beautiful and life-filling it is to walk out our lives in this free gift from God!

Have a wonderful Labor Day everyone!💕

”Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now I'm found

Was blind but now I see”

Hugs to all,

Laura McCollough