He Will Always Take Care of Us

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! :)

Don't Give In

It's so tempting...

...to give into the lies when you're hurting, angry, afraid, depressed, or all of these at once.

Don't do it!! I understand, the heartache, feeling like...you're lost. Feeling useless.

These are lies, and you know it! If you have a hard time recognizing the lies, you need to spend more time with The Lord. Dig into the Bible, you will find that the King of kings says you are precious to Him, and He loves you oh so much, more than any mortal man can ever comprehend!

Here is truth: you are beautiful and kind, you are strong. You are important, you are loved. You will get through this. 

After you've spent some time with Him, go do things that you enjoy! Hang out with friends and family! Laugh again, laughter is the best medicine!

Alright, now that you've got a few ideas to get you out of your slump, here are a few verses to lift you up before I go:

"Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious."

~ 1 Peter 2:4

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid!"

~ John 14:27

"Let not your hands be weak. The Lord your God 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."

~ Zephaniah 3:17

Go in peace and love, knowing you are important, and you make an impact on the people around you! 

XOXOXO,

Random fact #15- In 1567, the man said to have the longest beard in the world, died after he tripped over his beard, running away from a fire!

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment box below! :)

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.

Comment below, or Tweet me @elisewiddis

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.

Comment below, or Tweet me @elisewiddis