He Will Always Take Care of Us

Encouragement

Just a little something to help you (and I!) through the day!

Success

Success.

Everyone wants to be successful...but what is success?

Success is accomplishing ones goals.

What are your goals? Moving up at work? Being rich? Getting married? Having kids? Buying a house? Starting a business?

Is it wrong to desire such things? I don't think so. But should we make them our source of happiness and completion in life? Definitely not.

So if you don't feel successful...then you're focusing on the wrong thing, and perhaps you need to reevaluate what your goals are. 

Perhaps your goals are completely selfless, and you're frustrated because you just want to help people...now!

Then do it!

It may not be exactly how you want it to be, or who, or where, or when...but you CAN make a difference today. Still hold fast to your dreams and ambitions, but don't lose sight of today for tomorrow...or you may miss your opportunity.

It's as simple as a smile.

An encouraging word to a sad stranger.

A "thank you" to your barista.

Listening to someone's concern, and praying for them.

Or simply making someone laugh on a bad day (aka - Monday lol).

So don't give up. Keep pressing forward. Continue to seek the Lord in prayer. Keep smiling. Keep laughing. Keep hoping.

And I know this phrase is overused...but sometimes the only Bible someone sees is your life. Be a good reflection of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

I pray the Lord will bless you, keep you, and make His face to shine upon you.

XOXOXO,

Random fact #17- The most money ever paid for a cow in an auction is 1.3 million dollars!

Witnessing to Friends

When you meet someone who's not a Christian, your first thought is to witness to them so they can have the same hope as we do!

That's not always the best thing to do. 

When cultivating a new friendship with an unbeliever...

 You need to befriend them for the right reasons. Don't just be their friend so you can convert them, be their friend because you want to be friends with them, because you can relate with them, you find them to be a fun and interesting person!

People can tell when you have other motives for the friendship. Although wanting someone to go to Heaven is certainly good, you need to go about things the right way.

Pointing fingers at their religion or lifestyle is not a good way to win them over. 

If someone wanted to convert YOU and started poking holes in YOUR religion, how would that make you feel??? Would you want to listen to that person who is ripping apart that which is dearest to you? Or would you think more like this: that guy/girl is such a jerk. NO WAY would I want any part in anything he/she is involved in.

Instead of poking holes in their beliefs, how about pointing out how amazing your relationship with God is? After all, that IS the point you're trying to get across...right?

Also the Bible says to give an "answer for the hope that is within you..." (1 Peter 3:15). What comes before an answer? You got it, a question. Good deduction Sherlock. So...people should be asking us about our faith. Why would they do that? Because if we truly have salvation, and we love the Lord, we should be jumping up and down with happiness every day! We should be the most loving people on earth! If you saw someone acting so happy and loving and crazy, you'd probably ask them what's up too!

Before bringing up God, pray about it. 

Perhaps now isn't the right timing. God will let you know, you'll feel an uneasiness, or a peace in your heart. And if  you have a hard time telling whether it's you, or God saying "no" or "go," ask Him to bring up the opportunity to share: "God, if you want me to talk about you, have them bring it up, because I don't know if I should, and I don't know how to start this conversation!" 

That's all He wants, is a willing heart. You don't have to know all the answers, you just have to trust Him.

What I'm trying to say is that there's no "A,B&C" way to witness to people, but I think these are some pretty basic steps to at least avoid ruining that friendship! 

So...go make some new friends, be happy, and most importantly pray!

XOXOXO,

Random fact #16- Montpelier, Vermont, is the only state capital without a McDonalds......I'll bet the people there are so skinny! 

Feel free to share your thoughts on the subject in the comment box below, feedback is alwayyys appreciated! :)

The Cinderella Syndrome

Don't be a victim of the Cinderella Syndrome.

I have never liked the story of Cinderella for three reasons:

1. She whined about where she was in life and yet did nothing to change it

2. She waited around for some guy to rescue her...really?? 

3. She allowed people to use and abuse her

Sadly I know so many women waiting around for someone to change their lives. 

They whine about their life constantly. Let me tell you something, do not whine about your current circumstances unless you are willing to do something to change them.

Don't wait for some guy to come in and rescue you. Actually, there's a guy that already has, His name is Jesus. He paid the ultimate price to save you: His life. Your future husband is not meant to complete you, nor rescue you. You are meant to complement each other, and to help each other walk purely before the Lord.

Christ said to turn the other cheek (Luke 6:29), He did not say to lay on the ground and let everyone trample over you. Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9), stand up for your faith and for yourself.

XOXOXO,

Random Fact #13- The creator of the iPod first shopped his idea (without success) to Philips and RealNetworks before Apple agreed to market the device.

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Broken to Beautiful

Let me just start with this:

Guilt is from the devil.

Is that a little too bold for you? Perhaps you think I believe we should never feel bad for anything we do. That is not the case. But-

There is a difference between repentance, and guilt.

The one is combined with God's great love and forgiveness, the other hopelessness. If you know of a sin you committed, repent and accept His forgiveness.

Why do we hang on so tightly to guilt? Because we feel we deserve it, and you're darn right. In fact, we deserve Hell. But guess who loves us too much to leave us to our own stupidity? You guessed right; our Heavenly Father.

What does this deserved guilt get us? Do we get brownie points for extra humility? No. Our own guilt rips us away from the arms of our Lord! We end up feeling like we can't enter His presence until we're good enough. If that's what you're waiting for, then you've condemned your own self to Hell. 

Newsflash:

You can never be good enough, in your own strength!

That's when something beautiful happens! Jesus took our guilt on Himself, we are clean! Unfortunately it took me years to figure out just exactly what this meant.

You know how after a while, the paint in your room gets chipped and scratched? Maybe even stained, permanent marker? Some sort of food? So what you do is paint over it, you just cover it up. That's not what He did! He tore down that disgusting wall, and constructed a whole new one! No dings, scratches, or stains! Perfect, blameless.

Last week this information, finally, traveled the 18 inches (or in my case, 10 inches!)  from my head, to my heart. Believe you me, the effect was...boundless!

I AM GOOD ENOUGH.

Let me say that again, You are good enough...through HIM!

He re-built you, He bleached you, He scrubbed every inch of you until you were squeaky clean!

Share the hope!

Tell people about that ugly wall, and when they see the new you? They'll want what you have! Share with fellow Christians too! It is always so exciting to see God work in others lives!

Take this away with you today:

Let go of the guilt, and let God.

XOXOXO,

Random fact #11- The length of an elephant is the same as the tongue of a blue whale!

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Our Hearts Cry

How can I keep doing this to Him? How can He continually forgive me?

I have let so much distract me; family, friends, music, movies, the internet, reading, etc...

Dear Reader, 

Learn from my mistakes! There is NOTHING but God! Take this verse to heart:

"Who have I in Heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." -Psalm 73:25-26

Let this be your cry forever. I don't care what trials or blessings come...this should ALWAYS be your heart.

Pray:

"Dear God, 

Refresh my soul! Turn my heart back to You."

Reader,

Take this to heart also! Memorize it, engrave it into your very heart!

"There is a Name I love to hear,

I love to sing its worth;

It sounds like music in my ear,

The sweetest name on earth.

Oh how I love Jesus,

Oh how I love Jesus,

Oh how I love Jesus,

Because He first loved me.

It tells of One Whose loving heart, 

Can feel my deepest woe;

Who in each sorrow bears a part

That none can bear below.

It bids my trembling heart rejoice;

It dries each rising tear;

It tells me, in a 'still small voice,'

To trust and never fear."

Holy Holy is He, worthy is the Lord. 

XOXOXO,

Random fact #7- Summer on Neptune lasts for 40 years, but the temperature is -328°F.

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A Heart for the Lost

How can I say this? Where do I start? At the beginning.

My heart is breaking.

No, it's broken.

I can't handle knowing that a dear friend is going to burn in the pit of Hell for eternity. I can't just let them suffer.

Can you? How can you stay quiet? Speak up! What's the worst that can happen?

A friend of mine wanted to talk about "religion." So I opened up and shared what I believe, at the end

 he said "I'm glad you're not one of those pushy people trying to convert me!"

 To which I replied "if I do seem pushy ever, it's not because I'm trying to 'convert' you, I'm not. But you know what I believe, do you honestly think that I'm ok with you burning in Hell forever?"

 He says "haha I'll live!" 

"No, you don't get it. You won't live. I am NOT ok with that."

I'm not saying go tell everyone you meet that unless they accept the gift of salvation that they're going to burn in Hell, probably not the best way to become friends! But if you already are friends, and they know that you're telling them this because you love them, usually they'll be ok with that.

The last thing he said was "this has been a good time of bonding."

It's the way you approach it! Do you always have to know exactly what you'll say? No. Do you have to know all the answers? No. Pride comes before the fall (Proverbs 16:18). It's when we lean on God (Proverbs 3:5-6) to do the real work, that we really have any results.

Did my friend come to the Lord at the end of the conversation? No he didn't, but you know what? I'm not giving up hope! I planted a seed, now it's God's job to water it and harvest it (1 Corinthians 3:5-9)!

After you've spoken, all you can do is pray, prayer works (James 5:16, Psalm 66:20).

Love, Speak up & Pray.

XOXOXO,

Random Fact #6- During famines that ravaged North Korea from 1955 to 1997, starving people commonly dug up bodies from fresh graves to eat the meat. (Grossest thing...ever.)

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Forgiveness

Forgiveness doesn't just happen. The bitterness and the hurt feelings don't just go away overnight.

Choose it! God already forgave them, by refusing to forgive, you're pretty much saying that your opinion and feelings are higher than God's.

And who are you really hurting with all this bitterness? The person that hurt you? Nope.

It really hit me the other day as I was listening to the radio, a Matthew West song came on called forgiveness. The lyrics went like this:

"Forgiveness; it'll clear the bitterness away,

it can even set a prisoner free,

there is no end to what its power can do.

So let it go and be amazed,

by what you see through eyes of grace.

The prisoner that it really frees is you."

Surprise!!

I know...such a little thing, yet it made a world of difference.

So remember, by choosing to forgive, you are only doing yourself a favor. And if you reaalllyyyy can't come to forgive them, ask God to be your forgiveness. Believe me, He comes through EVERY TIME. Where we are weak He is strong, and that's a promise. :)

"The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace." 

Psalm 29:11

Go in peace and strength, with a smile on your face and forgiveness in your heart. Be a light to this world!

XOXOXO,

Random Fact #5- The first movie to gross over $100 million was Jaws.

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Leaning on Him

I was talking with a friend yesterday, who felt that her life was falling apart. She had lost everyone she loved, and she was heartbroken. She said to me "I don't understand why this is happening to me, why would God let this happen? It says in the Bible He won't give us any more than what we can handle, but it's wrong. I can't handle this anymore. I'm done."

She's right, we have way more than what we can handle. Us. You. Me. WE can't handle it!! Big newsflash there right? ;)

The good news is that WE don't have to handle it! We lean on Him, the Almighty, the Prince of Peace, our Father, lover, comforter, the Great I Am! He is strong where we are weak! If we lean on Him, and stop trying to handle it, He will pull us through!

You could almost see the light come into her face as she realized that! She had a new hope, where there was none before. He will pull you through. Lean on Him, call His name and He will be there!

XOXOXO,

Random fact #4-  The king of hearts is the only king without a mustache. 

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Be Still

Always going, always running, always doing. Our society today is crazy!

 I want you to stop. JUST STOP. 

If God had meant for us to get everything done today, he wouldn't have made a tomorrow!

You know what I did today for the first time in......forever? I stopped. I said no. 

I laid down outside. I heard the breeze rustling the leaves, the grass. I heard the birds chirping, I saw the trees waving. I felt the the earth pulsing heat into my body, warmth spreading everywhere. I relaxed. My muscles loosened up, I closed my eyes. I smelled the flowers, the grass, and the dirt. I felt the presence of Sweet Jesus.

I felt...peaceful. 

This is how I felt inside. Peace.

Turn off the cell phone, the computer, the gaming system, the MP3 player. Put down the book, stop folding the laundry, stop doing the dishes. Say no to your friends, even your family sometimes. Go somewhere you can't be reached. Take a walk in the park, lay in the grass. Whatever you do, listen. Listen for that still, small voice that says 

"Be still, my loved one, be still and know that I'm here to take care of things for you, I will not forsake you, I am Almighty God. Be still."

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

XOXOXO,

Random fact #3- Most lipsticks contain fish scales....yup.

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Lonely Valentine?

Feeling lonely on the day of love? 

I'll give you 7 reasons why being alone should make you happy!

#1-You can FINALLY give into those cravings for junk food that you've resisted for so long!

#2-Even if you have not resisted...well today is one day you don't need to feel guilty :D

#3-There is no need to share said junk food! Isn't that the best part?

#4-You can watch any movie you want tonight!

#5-It saves money, I'm all for that, even if I'm not Dutch!

#6-It's better to spend a few Valentines Day's alone then with the wrong man!

#7-Last but certainly not least: You get to spend it with the most devoted and tender man who ever lived; Jesus.

Here's some romance for you:

1 Peter 2:4 "Coming to Him as a living stone rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious!"

Psalm 139:17-18 "How precious also are Your thoughts to me, oh God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You!"

So here's what I want you to do:

          Stop feeling sorry for yourself! 

Go find some junk food! 

 Brew yourself some tea! 

                                      Open the living Bible to some of these romantic scriptures, and 

                                       Contemplate on the real meaning of romance!

Don't have any junk food? Make some, in a mug!!! Don't bother getting it out of the cup, it's more fun eating it right out of the mug!

With that I will say good night! Enjoy your "lonely" Valentines Day! You can bet on it I will!

XOXOXO,

Why not tell me how it went? Comment or Tweet me @elisewiddis

YOLO (the truth about it)

This made me laugh!!

Oh Dear. How many times have we heard that phrase? It is true though, we do live only once (on this earth anyway!). But should we let that little phrase be the excuse to cater to our every whim?

We have the wrong idea I think. What purpose did God create us for? To glorify Him! Not ourselves.

Instead of thinking "how can I live for myself today?", we need to be asking "what great (little) thing does God want me to accomplish today?". We need to be looking for opportunities to minister to others! We need to preach the whole gospel to every person we see, not in word but in deed! (1 John 3:18) Meaning: with the little things.

You don't have to know your theology perfectly (I certainly don't!!).You don't even have to be involved in a ministry at church! You don't need any talents. You only need the love of Jesus in you. 

Beautiful picture of Jesus by Akiane

I challenge you to step up and do the little things! If you work in a fast food place, ask the customer how their day went while you're waiting for the order, you'll be surprised the kinds of conversations that will start!

If you are the customer, ask your cashier how work is going! While you're walking past a neighbor, stop and have a little chat. 

If someone's having a rough time and you know it, offer to pray for them as God brings them to mind, especially if you don't know them! Be bold! Romans 8:28 "If God is with us, than who can be against us?" Don't be afraid to reach out and love someone. I promise they won't reject it (unless they think you're a creeper... ;D ), everyone craves love. And if they're grouchy, it just means they need it all the more! You could be the one that completely changes their perspective on well...life.

SMILING is a big one! A little smile will brighten anyone's day!

Awwwww <3

You've probably noticed my "little" theme by now! I have a few reasons: 

-I'm a little person..lol :D  

-It's much less daunting to start with the little stuff!  

-Luke 16:10 "If you are faithful in little, I will make you faithful in much!"  

-Sometimes the littlest things can have the largest impact!  

-1 Cor. 13:1-3 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love...it profits me nothing."

It's never too late to start, start now! (Go wash the dishes for your mom!!! :D ) Better yet, tell me about your stories, I want to hear them, all of them! Comment or Tweet me @elisewiddis, I would LOVE to hear from you!

XOXOXO,