Encouragement

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

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! :)

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." 

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Knight in Shining Armour

The guys who read this post will find it ridiculous, but I'm sure you ladies can relate!

As a girl gets older, she starts thinking along the lines of "I wish I had a boyfriend...or a husband, just someone to take care of me."

I had been immune to this for a long time, to me, relationships were a bother. The past year or so...not so much!

A few weeks ago I found myself complaining to God:

 "God, you just don't understand. I know that you can fill my emotional and spiritual needs, but you can't take care of my physical needs. Are you going to clean the snow off my car? What if my car breaks down? Or I get stuck in a snow bank? Or...some guy tries to kidnap me?! I know you CAN show up physically, but I totally know you're not going to. I love you, but it's just not enough."

Well let me tell you what, He had a few things He wanted to teach me! These things happened in short succession:

1) I was at a coffee shop for a few hours, went to start my car and it had more than a few inches of snow on it. I grab my snow scraper, and as I go to brush off the car, a total stranger rushes out. "Hey, let me do that for you, you shouldn't have to." He took the snow brush  right out of my hands and did it himself!

2) 6:30am, I get stuck in my driveway. "See God?! What'd I tell you? I'm stuck! Are you going to come rescue me? I guess not." I hop out of my car and look at it in despair. No brothers home. Dad's on a business trip. The neighbor guy (the nice one anyway) is gone. Arrrghhh. A voice came out of nowhere "excuse me miss? Can I help you? Would you like me to give your car a push?" I startle, then turn around. I'm thinking "what the heck? This is creepy...where did he come from? Hopefully he won't murder me..." So yeah, he pushed my car out and went on his merry way!

3) Today I was stuck in a friends driveway, yeah I know...I have a thing with driveways. Well my dear friend tried to dig me out, didn't work. We start walking back to the house, when I decide to turn back and grab my coat. I get to the car and hear a guy call "hey! Are you stuck? Want me to pull you out?" I look up to see a guy in a Jeep. "Um...yeah, really?! Thank you, that would be amazing!" He latches the hook onto my car, pulled it out of the driveway/ditch and said "lucky I came along at the right moment!" No, it wasn't luck, it was God!

So as you can see, God not only provides for our spiritual and emotional well being, but also for the physical! Never doubt He can take care of everything you need! Never again will I feel like I NEED a boyfriend or husband. If God chooses to bless me with one, so be it. If not, I will be content with everything He sees fit to give me. He is my true Knight in Shining Armour. 

He is more than enough!

XOXOXO,

Random fact #10- If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee. (Ok, seriously? Who sits around trying to figure that out anyway?! lol)

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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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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,

A Cinderella Story

Cinderella's dreams are coming true. And so can yours.

You want a Prince? He's there, right in front of you, begging for your attention. His name is Jesus. My dreams and desires, He gives me all of them, He doesn't hold back! Maybe you've already discovered Him, but you're not getting what you want. You say "why do you get what you want, and not me?" He gives us the answer in Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." (NIV) Look closely, it says when you delight yourself in Him. If you focus on Him, than you will desire the same things that He desires. Your desires will harmonize with His will.

Sadly so many of us, like Cinderella, run away from His will and His love. We're afraid He won't love us for who we truly are: broken, sinful, and lowly.

Our Prince Charming runs after us, searching us out.

 Willing to do literally anything to get us back, including laying down His own life. And He did. 

Romans 5:8 " God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Zephaniah 3:17 says this "The Lord your God is in your midst, the Mighty One will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." He not only died for us, but He loves us and we make Him happy!!

In the end of Cinderella, the Prince finds her. He shows her she is unique and lovely despite her flaws. His love transforms her into a radiant princess!

 

That is what Christ did for us. Accept His gift of love like Cinderella did,  and bloom under the shelter of His Perfect Love. 

He made my dreams come true, will you let Him make yours come true?

XOXOXO,

Please leave a comment, or tweet me @elisewiddis 

Book Review: Fairest Beauty

Fairest Beauty

Story written by Melanie Dickerson

Published by Zondervan

Description:

A DARING RESCUE. A difficult choice. Sophie desperately wants to get away from her stepmother's jealousy, and believes escape is her only chance to be happy. Then a young man named Gabe arrives from Hagenheim Castle, claiming she is betrothed to his older brother, and everything twists upside down. This could be Sophie's one chance at freedom...but can she trust another person to keep her safe? Gabe defied his parents Rose and Wilhelm by going to find Sophie, and now he believes they had a right to worry: the girl's inner and outer beauty has enchanted him. Though romance is impossible,she is his brother's future wife, and Gabe himself is betrothed to someone else,he promises himself he will see the mission through, no matter what. When the pair flee to the Cottage of the Seven, they find help,but also find their feelings for each other have grown. Now both must not only protect each other from the dangers around them...they must also protect their hearts.

My Review:

I have always loved FAIRYTALES. Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to be a princess swept away by a dashing prince! The way Melanie writes, she makes me believe my dreams can become reality. 

This book was a thrill to read! I especially loved the tentative relationship between Sophie & Gabe, it was precious! All of the characters were amazing; the "good" characters are real and lovable, yet completely human (along with the flaws, but doesn't that make them all the better??). The "bad" characters are welll....EVIL. And terrifying! But they also show a redeeming quality. Unfortunately the evil queen did not turn from her wicked ways before reaching a dreadful end, though the choice of another lifestyle was always there waiting for her. Just like us, there's always an alternative, no matter how far we've gone we can still choose CHRIST. It says in Mark 2:17 "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners.'" NIV Translation.

Was there anything I didn't like?? Not knowing what happens to Valten! Of course we'll find that out when we read the sequel: The Captive Maiden (CAN'T WAIT!!)

I rate this book a 9!

PLEASE feel free to leave a comment! I would love to hear what you have to say about this book, tweet me @elisewiddis.

XOXOXO,