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!

Count it All Joy

We are either waiting for the Lord to bless us in some way, or we are waiting for the other shoe to drop.

He gives, and takes away (Deut. 32:39, Job 1:21). Learn to Enjoy the blessings (James 1:17), and praise God through every trial (1 Peter 1:6-7).

"For I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:11-13

Are you going through trials right now? Take heart; "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31

Read also Matthew 6:25-34 for further encouragement! God provides for our every need!

Are you feeling blessed at this time of your life? Don't wait for the other shoe to drop. Do you think God is some kind of bully that when He sees you enjoying life, He wants to ruin it? He's not! He enjoys giving good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11)! Make sure you give God the credit.

Blessings and trials are not always what you expect them to be. 

Do not look at your neighbor and think "oh he/she has it so much better than I do!" They may be prospering financially, but is their family walking with the Lord? Maybe they have lost a loved one, or have dealt with sickness and disease.

So many look at finances and think God is not blessing them, that He doesn't love them dearly. That is not so! Look at your life, look for the blessings! Do you have a family that loves you? Do you have friends that build you up? Does your church feel like home? If so, consider yourself rich indeed!

Can financial success be a blessing from the Lord? Yes. Is it the only or the best blessing from Him? No. In fact, it is the least.

It is so easy in the midst of hardship to forget the countless blessings God has already given us. I've started a "blessings jar" to remind myself. I keep a notepad beside it, and every time God blesses me I write it down (the date as well!) and place it in the jar. I encourage you to give it a try!

Be content in trials and blessings, but look extra hard for those blessings!!!

XOXOXO,

Random fact #12- Dr. Seuss coined (created) the word nerd in his 1950 book "If I Ran the Zoo." 

Comment below, or Tweet me @elisewiddis

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.

Comment below, or Tweet me @elisewiddis

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. 

Comment below or Tweet me @elisewiddis