It’s So Much More
The story of Christmas goes beyond sparkling lights & beautiful presents under a beautiful tree. It’s more than the upbeat, cheerful melodies of the Christmas carols or the delectable smells drifting throughout the house from cookies baking in the oven or a Christmas scented candle lit nearby.
The story of Christmas is a story of HOPE… & not just hope for those whose lives seem outwardly to have earned it. No… hope for the weary & broken. Hope for the hurting & lonely. Hope for the one who feels all hope is gone.
It is a story of the God Who created the world & everyone in it, Who sits on His heavenly throne, being worshipped & praised night & day, Who is deserving of all honor & praise & submission… stepping down from Heaven, to be born in human flesh… so that He could humble Himself for us… even to death on a cross.
It is a story of our long-suffering type of patient God, demonstrating, through His actions… His sacrifice… His love for His created.
It is a story of HOPE.
God Sees You, He Knows Your Heart
I don’t know where you’re at in life right now, sitting on the other side of this screen, reading this. Whether you feel joyful or sorrowful, strong or depleted, together or falling apart… hopeful or hopeless.
But I do know that God sees you where you are. He knows the deepest depths of your heart, even the hurts you hide behind your smile. He sees it all.
And He saw it before you were even born. He knew this feeling would come. He saw you here, now… back then.
And He prepared for you a plan of HOPE against all odds… HOPE even in the even if… HOPE even when nothing works out okay & nothing seems to be getting better & no one seems to care you even exist. He made you. He died for you. To offer you hope.
With Him, there is no hopeless.
The Gift Is Given Freely… But It Has to be Received
Maybe you’re reading this & feeling offended. Reared up. Ready to spew all the reasons you project that mean you’re doing just fine.
But late at night… when you have nothing to prove… when you’re all alone in the dark… do you feel the same way?
Are you willing to admit to yourself, that if you’re really honest with yourself… you too are looking for some HOPE?
Into His Loving Arms
I have failed God more times than I could ever keep track of in my 37 years of being His child. I don’t deserve one OUNCE of His grace. He, more than ANYONE knows this about me. And yet, by some great miracle, whenever I humble myself before Him & turn to Him… I am not met with a stern gaze & a pointed finger… but with open arms & a warm smile, as if to say, “Come home, My child. I will never give up on you. Never have, never will. I love you too much to leave you, Michelle.”
Through my seasons of raging doubts that tossed me to & fro & left me ever unstable & constantly seeking just-in-cases over Him… to seasons where I thought I could find happiness better, more assuredly, if I sought it anywhere else but Him… to seasons where I was trying so hard to be good enough to earn His favor versus trusting it’s based on His love, not my efforts… to seasons of defiance & rebellion that led to disaster… to seasons where I shut Him out because the season of suffering I was in never seemed to end & praying for help only left me angry with Him & the guilt of that anger made me stop coming to Him altogether….
I have failed Him an embarrassing number of times…. And let me emphasize here that I don’t like just learning my lessons once… I tend to need to learn it repeatedly before it really sticks—I am really thick-headed that way.
And yet… grace. Every time… grace.
You Cannot Out-Sin His Love for You
It used to make me feel guilty coming back… as if I had called in one too many lifelines… that I had used up all my second chances. But not so with God… oh how His grace only seems to ever multiply…. Not to excuse my sin, but to show me that I cannot out-sin His love for me… His grace offered to me. Jesus paid it ALL… ALL to Him I owe.
I cannot out-sin His grace. You don’t have to pretend with God… You don’t have to be fake with Him… He already knows.
YOU cannot out-sin His grace… His LOVE for you.
Not having it all together, but coming broken, sad, without it all together, failing, pitiful, undeserving, wretched, disgusting, flawed, feeling worthless.
But all God sees when He looks down at you… is His love for you… His desire to welcome you back home to His warm embrace.
He is the ultimate HOME.
So COME all ye unfaithful… COME.
Where Hope Meets Us
Let this Christmas be a reminder of the Hope we have because God came as man, to dwell among us… to give His life as a ransom for many… to save us from our sins.
Let the lights remind you of His GLORY. Let the shape of the tree remind you to look up to Him. Let the decorations be a reminder of His splendor. Let the gifts be a reminder of the greatest gift ever given—JESUS, God with us.
Shine HOPE this Christmas by finding your HOPE in Emmanuel, God with us… JESUS. And by giving Him all the honor & praise He deserves this Christmas.
“Oh Come All You Unfaithful” song, by Sovereign Grace Music
O come, all you unfaithful
Come, weak and unstable
Come, know you are not alone
O come, barren and waiting ones
Weary of praying, come
See what your God has done
Christ is born, Christ is born
Christ is born for you
O come, bitter and broken
Come with fears unspoken
Come, taste of His perfect love
O come, guilty and hiding ones
There is no need to run
See what your God has done
Christ is born, Christ is born
Christ is born for you
He’s the Lamb who was given
Slain for our pardon
His promise is peace
For those who believe
He’s the Lamb who was given
Slain for our pardon
His promise is peace
For those who believe
So come, though you have nothing
Come, He is the offering
Come, see what your God has done
Christ is born, Christ is born
Christ is born for you
Christ is born, Christ is born
Christ is born for you
(Songwriters: Bob Kauflin, Lisa Clow–Watch it on YouTube, here: “Oh Come All Ye Unfaithful.”
***He is waiting for you… will you come?:***
***(Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6)***
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
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As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for 7.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Malachite Unity Bracelet–India
Artisans in India handcraft this beautiful Malachite Unity Bracelet while earning a fair wage for their work. Each bracelet features gold-tone beads on one side and malachite beads on the other, creating a beautiful blocked look, perfect for the holidays or everyday wear. Every purchase of the Malachite Unity Bracelet helps to end poverty cycles and keep families out of the slums of India!
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
How You Can Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support My Website:
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
