Outfit & Thoughts // Encourage-mint

   Pardon the pun, dear readers. I've been in a pun-making mood today and decided to consolidate the key words of my post into a ridiculous hybrid. ;) As you may have noticed by now, nearly all shades of blue-green are my favorite colors. Thus, when I find a mint top my size it is a treasure indeed! Meanwhile, I have been in need of some encouragement(/mint) lately and thought I would share with you some scripture that I have found uplifting!

   Last week, my parents and I went on a summer getaway to one of our favorite vacation spots. One of our traditions is visiting a favorite consignment store to find cute, like-new clothes for a second-hand price! Among my purchases this year was a darling top which combines one of my choice colors with another favorite - lace! Last week, I styled it with my go-to gray skirt. To complete the feminine look, I added my beloved ankle boots and fair isle socks. 

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   Life isn't always pleasant, as each one of you knows. Sometimes this is because of huge, earth shattering things, and sometimes it is because of things that stay hidden within our own hearts. At times we just feel spiritually dry, perhaps questioning our faith or feeling like inadequate Christians. Here are a few scriptures to encourage our hearts today in whatever we are going through. 

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Mathew 11:28-29

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden,
The God who is our salvation. Selah.

Psalm 68:19 

 

Though we are promised tribulation, we are also promised rest in Christ. No matter what is going on, we can breathe a sigh of relief in our souls, knowing who bears our burdens. How amazing is it that the supreme Creator and Ruler of the universe troubles Himself to carry our load?!

 

Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

John 6:28-29

 

Obviously, there is much more to the Christian life than just believing and moving on with our lives. However, I like the simplicity of the Lord's answer in a society of man-made rules and traditions. He gets to the heart of the matter, which is believing on Him.

Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
II Corinthians 5:18-20

This encourages us to witness! We have been given the amazing privilege of being reconciled to God. Now, we are to tell of this ministry of reconciliation to the world. The Lord gives us the honor of sharing the good news.

Light is sown like seed for the righteous
And gladness for the upright in heart. 

Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.

Psalm 97:11-12