Elyse D.

Inspiring biblical passage of the moment: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant , or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Spiritual growth focus at the moment: Strengthening  my relationship with God, digging deeper into His word, and being able to understand it more and apply it to my life .

Profession: I work for my family’s natural care product business @sudsandsuchbyannie, we are working on growing it. I also do lots of babysitting.

A one sentence bio of yourself: I love Jesus, music, photography, clothes and family and friends (and my baby niece Audra.)

When did you first encounter God and how did you encounter Him? I can’t really remember an exact moment when I encountered God, I feel like it’s been in the hard times where He would show me something in His word that I need to hear, and in the little moments where His has show Himself to me.

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season? Keeping those times I have set aside to read God’s word and pray, I find myself craving those quite times with Him more and more. And I find that if I start my day with God’s Word, my day goes so much better!

Just read/currently reading (and what has it taught you?): A little bit ago I finished  NO LONGER A SLUMDOG by K.P. Yohannan, and KISSES FROM KATIE by Katie Davis Majors. Both of them are talking about people (and especialy children) in different countries. It is so eye-opening to read about their situation and their imperfect lives. It helps me get out of the bubble of me, which I do get stuck in, sometimes.  Sometimes, I feel like we forget that the world is bigger than what we can see or where we have been. And that’s why I like reading books about things in different countries. I would highly recommend these books! And right now I am reading Anne of Green Gables; it’s just the best!

“It is so eye-opening to read about their situation and their imperfect lives. It helps me get out of the bubble of me, which I do get stuck in, sometimes.”

Top three essentials: My Bible and journal, a comfy outfit and a guitar (also a piano).

How did God speak to you recently? It kinda funny, but a lot of times, I will just be lying in my bed at nighttime, thinking through the day and such. And then, some thought will come into my head (and when you have nothing else to do, you think about that thought a lot!) I don’t know if it just comes into my head or it it is from God, but a lot of times it seems like He is talking to me. A couple of the things that He has been speaking and teaching me about is all the ways He loves us, and how important it is to enjoy each and every moment we have in our life time. This life on earth goes so fast!

Hobby: Music! I play the guitar, piano and sing. Music makes my heart so happy, and being able to praise God through music is amazing!

“Music makes my heart so happy, and being able to praise God through music is amazing!”

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong: One that always is good is to stay in God’s Word. I try to start the day with it and end the day with it. Godly influence is such an important thing, too! And being okay with having messy and not perfect moments, where you grow into the person who you are supposed to be!

Favorite person in scripture? I can’t think of an specific person, there are so many amazing people in the Bible. I do love seeing God take people in the Bible with insecurities or imperfect lives, and seeing God use them in mighty ways. It’s just so cool!

What do you want people to learn about God when they look at you? I want people to see Jesus’s love and kindness though me, and someone who is living their life for Jesus.

Favorite season: I love autumn! All the warm and cute sweaters and baking!

Favorite holiday? Christmas! I love it because it is such a joyful time of the year, and it’s just the best! And Thanksgiving because my whole family is usually there.

A dream you have? I would love to become a worship leader. Music makes my heart so happy, and to be able to worship my Heavenly Father for a job would be amazing! Also, someday, I want to be a stay at home mom with a bunch of babies.

A special tradition you and your family engage in or keep: Our family just about always goes to a cabin up North and stays there for a little bit, it’s such a nice time!

Question you will ask when you get to heaven? I don’t [know] why, but I can’t think of one.

Thing you want to raise awareness about: You are special and amazing just the way you are. The world speaks so many lies to us, but they are not true. Your dear Heavenly Father loves you and me, just the way we are! He created you just the way you are, and you are like no one else on this earth. It doesn’t matter what you have done in your life, He loves you for who you are!❤

“The world speaks so many lies to us, but they are not true. Your dear Heavenly Father loves you and me, just the way we are!”

What do you usually do before 9 a.m.? Wake up, do my morning things, get dressed, do my devotion and have breakfast. Some mornings, I do a lot more, and some, not even this much, but that’s life, sometimes.

What is on your nightstand? I have plants, and then on the inside, I have my Bible and journal, and my books and magazines.

Define Christianity in a sentence: Something we do by faith, and not by sight.

For more Elyse:

IG: @elyse_dyer

Until next time, keep witnessing!

XOXO