Fall favorites!

     My fall favorites right now:
 
-----> "Cider Lane" bath and body works candle, this candle smells so good. It's a seasonal candle so I don't know how long it'll be in stores, but it smells exactly like this season! It has spice, sweet and just makes you think of leaves falling. Another amazing candle I'm absolutely IN LOVE with is "Pumpkin Caramel Latte". It's also by bath and body works. So yummy!!!! It smells like a freshly made latte and makes any room instantly smell cozy and welcoming. (Unfortunately I don't have a pic of this candle because I've had it for awhile so it's burned out already.)
----->Mini pumpkins! So adorable, I have a couple in my room because they don't take up much room and they are just so, so, so cute and a perfect decoration for fall. I LOVE THEM.
----->Pumpkin Spice Lattes. The best drink you will ever have. Just promise you'll try it for me. They are my favorite coffee drink ever. They only come for a couple months which is a bummer but when they are here I am the happiest person. This season I'm not able to drink them because I've cut out caffeine completely, but next year I'll drink as many as I want.
      So lets get serious. I've been thinking a lot lately about something a woman said to me a week or two ago. She's been in my shoes before and knows exactly how it feels to be a teen mom, her situation was a lot worse then mine because her church actually turned her out and wouldn't accept her. I am so blessed to still be welcomed. Of course things will always feel different to me but I will continually try to be a involved and not give up.
     She was letting me talk about how it feels to be in this position. It was really nice to be able to talk to somebody and just honestly say how I feel because I really don't talk about it. When I do I can't say exactly how I feel because I don't want anybody to feel sorry. But this woman and I aren't close so I knew she didn't need me to censor my feelings.

     I talked about the shame I feel even just walking out the door. The she told me about how God promised us justification ( a reason, fact, circumstance, or explanation that justifies or defends. Also called justification by faith . Theology . the act of God whereby humankind is made or accounted just, or free from guilt or penalty of sin. <definitions via dictionary.com>) She said how through Jesus all of our sins are forgiven. Yes, I've heard this before but this time it was different because she said to me, when I choose to walk around feeling ashamed and letting myself be depressed I'm saying "No, Jesus I don't believe your promise of justification, no, I won't live like a new, forgiven, child of God".

     I realized that choosing to live in shame means that I'm refusing to trust God and what he says I am and who I really am. So everyday whenever I feel insecure I remember God's promise to me and no matter what ANYBODY ever says about me I know what GOD says about me. 

     After we talked I looked up a verse that says very clearly the truth. "Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man (Christ) forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses." Acts 13:38-39 
     I believe anyone, no matter where they've been, should be loved and shown the grace God has shown us. ♥
     Another thing I've thought a lot about is a verse (Romans 5:8) that says, "while we were still sinners" Jesus died to save us. It never says, "after we did this, this and this" no, it says WHILE we were sinners. I think it's really important to love people even in the midst of their sins and not force a million rules down their throat. Of course we need to pray for them to repent and try to help them as much as we can to resist sin, but we need to accept them even if they never do. That's what I think genuine grace is. 
     I think we as Christians need to focus less on rules and more on loving the way Jesus did. He never told a tax collector or prostitute go do this, and you REAALLLYYY gotta fix this, etc. before he went to meals with them. He went and spent time with them no matter what they were doing. Now, he does say "go and sin no more" to us. This is what we should try to do, there are very clear right and wrongs. 
    I guess what I'm trying to say is we need to love and accept people regardless of how they may act. (Obviously with boundaries so we don't fall into the same lifestyle choices, "We are to be in the world but not of the world") I may be wrong in my thinking about grace so please correct if I am, but as far as my knowledge goes that's what I believe. 
     Anyways have an amazing lovely week and enjoy your fall fashion, weather, scents and hot drinks! Sorry this post was super long, I promise I won't be offended if you don't read the whole thing. P.s. If you have a blog please message me on FB or comment your blog link so I can follow and look at yours!!!!