Enjoying God

Enjoying God has been pretty hard for me in the past, thinking of God mainly as a rule-giving dictator, BUT over the last year, in praying & asking God to help me know & love Him more, God has been illuminating this idea of “Enjoying God” in my heart, making the richness of all He has done for & continues to do for me (& you) every day become more obvious & clear in the day-to-day of my life.

Way Beyond the Practical

A few weeks ago, I talked about God’s creation & how He went WAY beyond the practical to make His creation beautiful & diverse in color, taste, texture, smell, size, shape, sound, etc…. Such amazingly inspiring diversity for us to ENJOY!

AND, before humans were even created, He had already formed the land & separated the seas & made the sky with all its stars, moon, & sun. He made the seasons & formed the plants & birds & animals & everything we would need to survive & thrive… He had it ALL done & ready before He made us.

His Plan All Along–To Redeem Us

And as I mentioned last week… God KNOWING, before creating us, that we would choose to distrust Him & thus rebel against Him, He also worked into His design a way for our redemption, through Jesus. Even that was DONE for us.

We were born with a way of healing, forgiveness, & redemption… a way back to Him… already in place, before we could even have the chance to even make our first poor or selfish decision. What GRACE!!

We Were Meant to Leave That Up to God

When we were made, we weren’t made to carry all of the heavy burdens of the world… we were meant to leave that up to God & to enjoy & tend to the work God had already DONE.

When we wronged God, we weren’t meant to struggle under the strain of making ourselves right with God, never quite accomplishing it & always falling short, straining & hurting to save ourselves… we were meant to leave that up to God as well, through Jesus, & to enjoy the richness of His great love & forgiveness & mercy.

We are MADE to ENJOY GOD.

That is how we give Him the most glory… by ENJOYING HIM.

We do this by resting in what He accomplished in HIS power & resting in what HE can do to help us as we lean into Him & obey Him, asking for HIS power.

DONE At Creation… & DONE At the Cross.

And so, we can praise Him & thank Him for all He has made for us to enjoy, from the tiny dandelion to the fluttering butterfly to the vibrant sunset to the crashing waves to the feel of rain on our skin during a hot day to the taste of a delicious favorite meal.

And still, we can praise Him & thank Him that even when we fell & fall short, the work has been completed for us already on the cross. We can come back, running with full assurance that He will forgive & extend to us all the richness of His confounding grace & mercy & LOVE.

When we have nothing, but we have Him… we have EVERYTHING.

He Fills Everything We Lack As We Learn to Lean into Him in All Things in Life

Not easy, but better… Fulfillment, peace, reconciliation, wisdom, grace, forgiveness, understanding, patience, mercy, open-armed love. We have HIM through all the hard.

And I would rather have hard times with Him than good times with ANYTHING else, because nothing else can offer me those things the way that He so completely & fully CAN.

Other things we lean on for hope may seem to promise a lot, but they never seem to be enough… Where, with God, it’s quite the opposite… He may not seem like He could ever be enough, but He delivers A LOT more than we can ever hope or even imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)

That’s something worth living for. HE’S Someone worth living for.

Because His work, His creation, & His redemption… His DONE… allows me to ENJOY Him.

Enjoying God Gives God Glory

I stumbled on these quotes that echo this whole idea of learning to enjoy God as a means to give Him glory… to learn just how rich His love & blessings really are so that we can naturally draw others to find TRUE & lasting HOPE that will change their lives for the better & for all eternity!

“The entire human race was created to glorify God & to enjoy Him forever.” -Oswald Chambers

“In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him. Fully to enjoy is to glorify.” -C.S. Lewis

“To serve God, to love God, to enjoy God is the sweetest freedom in the world.” -Thomas F. Wilson

I hope these quotes echo a sweet call to your heart to seek to know & love God more, to trust His love & grace & DONE work so well that you naturally learn to ENJOY GOD.

His Words, Not Just Mine

Take a moment to read through these reminders from God’s Word that remind us of all the things we have to truly be thankful for & to rest in Him & to ENJOY GOD. (All emphasis mine.)

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)

“You [God] will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

“This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, Who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“But He [Jesus] was pierced for our transgressions,
    He was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on Him,
    & by His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in Him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    & never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” (1 Timothy 6:17)

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy & find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, & the love of God, & the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” (2 Corinthians 13:14)

To Know & Love Him More

Don’t be content in considering God to be a demanding dictator, but consider Him to be a trustworthy & Almighty God who always knows best & in all He does, considers what is for our best.

Be daring enough that when you seek to OBEY God (in trusting love), that you also seek to KNOW & LOVE Him MORE (Link: “How to Know & Love God More”) & as you learn to enjoy God more, you will crave to seek Him all the more because you begin to discover that not only can you trust Him… He also LOVES you & LAVISHES His richness on you because of that overwhelming love He has for you.

Shine HOPE by enjoying God & by always asking God to help you to know & love Him more (Link: “The Greatest Prayer-To Know & Love God More”) every single day.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week!

A Note from Michelle:

This blog/website has been running for over TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Grace Earrings

These earrings feature gold plated metal around local capiz shell.

Artisan Information:

In the Philippines, finding employment as a woman in poverty can be extremely difficult. Poor working conditions, lack of job security,& unfair pay are often the realities. Through your purchase, these women are receiving an income, health care, & social development programs. This allows these women to realize their potential & pursue their dreams in a safe environment. You have the opportunity to change lives!

Purchase this piece & empower a woman in the Philippines!

How You Can Help:

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!

Why Enjoying God Matters

As promised, I wanted to revisit this idea of “Enjoying God.”

Last week, I shared how unusual a concept it always was for me to “enjoy God.” I had always heard other words lumped with God… like, “obey God.”

And while obeying God is very important (& VALUABLE to us), if we neglect the idea of ENJOYING God while instructing others to obey God, we are missing a huge chunk of the WHY we obey God… not that we obey Him to get what we want from Him, but that His commands are always meant to benefit us & that’s why He instructs us in the ways that He does.

Way Beyond the Practical

So, today I want to revisit this concept that we dove into a couple weeks ago, where I shared about the many ways God reveals His love to us in the world around us aka His creation.

God lavishes on us in so many unnecessary ways, ways that go way beyond the practical. For example, He didn’t just create one type of plant, in one shape & color & size for the purpose of providing oxygen to us, but MANY types of plants in MANY shapes & MANY colors & MANY sizes. (& even different scents!) And that’s just the plants!

All we have to do is look up to see the sky in all its many beautiful colors & always-changing designs, to see how God goes above & beyond the practical to reveal His love for us.

God WANTS us to enjoy His many blessings that He has made for us!

He Makes It Personal

But today, I want to talk about something that isn’t just about enjoying God through the beauty & wonder of His creation, but enjoying God on a much deeper level–a personal level.

He knows you… & I mean KNOWS you. He created you & knows every little thing there IS to know about you… even the subconscious things you can’t or won’t admit to yourself whether you are unaware or are hiding from scars. He KNOWS you… And He LOVES you.

He loves you so much that although He knew you would rebel against Him & go your own way (even when we do day-to-day thinking we’re good enough on our own), He planned a way to redemption through His Son Jesus & He made you anyway, even with such a high price to win you back. He LOVES you.

And He WANTS you to ENJOY that great & faithful & gracious & WONDERFUL love that He has for you! So let’s talk about it.

Sit, Walk, Stand… Let’s Sit First

If you finish this blog post & think, “I want MORE of this topic,” please check out the short book, “Sit, Walk, Stand,” by Watchman Nee, which you can find on Amazon (for about $6 at the time of me writing this post.) I found it easy to read & super encouraging/informative. Check it out!

In his book, Nee mentioned that when we turn to Jesus & submit our brokenness to Him & ask Jesus to save us from our sins, accepting His loving & powerful payment on our behalf… when we start submitting our life to Jesus Christ & God’s way, it doesn’t start with a big DO, but with a big DONE.

Were You There? Were You Able? … But, GOD

Were you there when God created everything? Nope. (God took care of it all for us. Ask Job, who was asked this by God in Job, chapter 38)

Were you able to save yourself & make yourself right before God? Nope. (But Jesus offered His life for US! Read Romans 5, focusing on verse 8, for some WONDERFUL encouragement!)

Is your life of following God up to your own strength, efforts, goodness, wisdom, power, etc.? Nope. (You don’t become God when you accept Jesus’ gift of reconciliation with God… you’re still just human, BUT you have FULL access to God & all of His resources to help you as you lean on Him for HELP. Read 2 Peter 1, focusing on verse 3.)

Our life as a Christian, abiding in Jesus, doesn’t start with a big DO, but with a big DONE.

Even God’s COMMANDS Are For Our GOOD

Does this mean we have zero responsibility? Nope. But it DOES mean that God helps us with HIS power through EVERY responsibility we have AND every responsibility we have is ALSO FOR OUR GOOD.

God doesn’t arbitrarily give us instructions & commands to assert power & authority over us or to have us PROVE our faith… NO. He gives these instructions & commands because He knows it will benefit us &/or protect us from so many lasting & unnecessary hurts, most of which we don’t even realize we’re succumbing to on this earth because it quite honestly just seems like the norm.

Let Him Handle the Rest

It’s not up to you to SAVE the world. You can’t.

It’s not up to you to CONVINCE the world of the Truth. You can’t.

It’s not up to you to do ALL the things. You can’t.

It IS up to you to walk on the path that God illuminates for you as you learn to trust & love Him more, letting Him take the lead, letting Him provide you with what you need to accomplish the tasks He sets before you, AND letting Him handle the rest.

That’s where the SIT part comes in as the starting point in Watchman Nee’s book that I mentioned above… You SIT in a KNOWING that it’s not up to you, but Him. That He starts you out with a giant DONE, versus a giant DO.

Let Me Set the Record Straight

If you browse my website or read my blog posts or watch my Facebook LIVEs or enjoy my weekly emails & think to yourself, “well, of course SHE does this stuff because SHE seems to have bigger faith than me… or more wisdom… or more self-discipline… or less of a past… or less trauma… or whatever it is.… Let me set the record straight for you RIGHT NOW.

I AM JUST A PERSON. I am weak. I am generally lazy & a procrastinator. I worry WAY TOO MUCH. I stress out. I try to self-solve, self-soothe, & self-shield until every effort of mine has failed BEFORE I weakly cry out to God for help. I tend to pray for comfort versus courage. I trust myself more than I trust the God who made me. I want to quit whenever I get a single criticism. I am insecure. I struggle with image issues. I have trauma I wrestle with sometimes. I AM JUST A PERSON.

ENJOY GOD

God wants us to SIT in KNOWING that our success or effectiveness or courage DO NOT come from US, but as a RESULT of trusting HIM. He wants us to find rest & peace & JOY in trusting that He’s got it covered & that if we JUST show up with a willing heart to honor Him, He will take care of the rest as we lean into Him for it!

Trust God! He’s Got You!

I literally whine, mope, beg to avoid, want easy, crave comfort, feel stubborn & obstinate, but then I beg God, “God, You are so much bigger than all my reasons not to. And although I am just a weak human, You are NOT. So, help me. Be what I need to fill in my gaps. Help me be faithful when I want to quit. Help me allow my vulnerabilities & insecurities & failures & weaknesses be opportunities to show others that even in the many ways that I CAN’T, YOU CAN. Help me to show up. Help me to trust You enough to SHOW UP. And work through me. Use my life to bring others to the hope we can only find in You. Help me in my own weakness to be a vessel for Your grace. Thank You that You are ALWAYS, 100% ENOUGH. And help me. Please. Amen.”

Unwilling, But Willing to Ask God to Change My Opinion

And sometimes, guess what… my prayers sound more like this, “God, I don’t want to. Please don’t make me do this. I am too SHY! I am too worried I won’t be able to do this! I don’t want to set myself up for criticism! I just want to be invisible. Please let me be invisible…………….. SIGH. But… God… I do know that MAYBE You can help me & that MAYBE You know better than me & know what’s best for me & can handle all my mess. So……. Can You help me be willing to trust You? I don’t know if I can in this. I want to run from it, not stand in faith. I don’t have enough faith. So…… maybe if You help me? Please help me be willing to trust You & ask for Your help versus running & hiding. Help me trust You… PLEASE. Amen.”

Because it’s not about how big your faith is, but how big your GOD IS.

Take your weaknesses, insecurities, vulnerabilities, AND UNWILLINGNESS to Him & ask for His help through it.

Enjoying God, Part 2

You see, God didn’t stop at helping us enjoy Him with the BEAUTY & WONDER of nature & His creation…. He cares about that heart of yours on a MUCH deeper level, Beautiful.

He created you. He knit you together. He planned for Jesus to rescue you before you even had a chance to wrong Him. He knows your every thought & He loves you more than anyone EVER could.

And He starts your journey of following after & abiding in Him with a giant DONE.

Learn to ENJOY God & All That He Willingly Offers to You If You But ASK

Our “job” is to learn to enjoy Him… To sit in wonder of His great love… To praise Him for His beautiful creation… To give Him GLORY & point to Him in ALL things because we know He offers that same HOPE of grace to EVERY SINGLE PERSON who is willing to run to Him… & to realize that because He loves us so BIG, we can trust Him in EVERYTHING & turn to Him in, through, & for EVERYTHING…. And because we trust Him & all He has DONE & will do, we obey… with His help.

That is how we can ENJOY Him. That is how we can SIT, as Nee’s book says. And after we SIT there, that is how we can WALK with His help & also STAND in His strength.

ASK HIM. Please, Ask Him.

If you struggle knowing how you could possibly have that kind of rest & peace, start there & ask God to help you see His perspective, because He is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or even IMAGINE. (Ephesians 3, focusing on verse 20)

So, ask Him. And enjoy Him. And trust Him.

Shine Hope by enjoying all God has DONE & by enjoying God’s lavished LOVE & GRACE & MERCY on ALL who put their hope & trust in Him.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week!

A Note from Michelle:

This blog/website has been running for over TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Radiant Necklace SET

On-trend set of 3 layered necklaces (Only ONE of 3 shown in photo) that can be worn together or separately, featuring one necklace with a labradorite stone, one with hammered discs, & one with a blue topaz crystal drop.

Artisan Information:

In India, poverty is rampant & fair working conditions are hard to find. Every purchase provides women with income, access to healthcare, education for their children, & care for elderly family members. Many of these artisans have been exploited by sweatshops in the past but are now receiving fair wages as artisans in safe & caring fair-trade workshops.

Purchase this piece & empower a woman in India!

How You Can Help:

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!

Let’s Talk about Us

Today, I want to talk about us.

Not literally you reading this & me writing this, but us as a community. We need each other.

As people, we were made to need community… with God… & with each other.

So many of God’s commands revolve around us loving one another, because God first loved us, so should we love one another.

The Church

And that is a big design element when God established The Church… not just as a crowd of people sitting in pews, listening to a pastor preach from God’s Word, the Bible… although that is a very important part of our lives as The Church.

And it’s not a building where we go to sit… WE are The Church.

Not a building, but a family.

Not a biological family, but a family made family by accepting God as our loving, heavenly PERFECT Father, heirs together with Jesus Christ, who gave His life on our behalf, in obedience to God & because of His great love for us… to pay our penalty so we could be reunited as family under God.

WE are the family. WE are The Church.

We Need Each Other

I want to take a moment to express how valuable it is to meet together & praise & worship God together, while also hearing teaching from God’s Word, as we do when we “go to church,” but us as The Church FAMILY does not end beyond those walls.

I will say it again, we were MADE to NEED each other.

We were MADE to NEED GOD.

We were NOT made to be self-sufficient or self-reliant.

Trauma Leads Us to Isolate

I will be the first to admit to you that this concept was not always easy for me. Trauma of having someone you trust betray you can leave you feeling very much like you were MADE to NEED to be self-sufficient… that you can’t rely on someone else… that you can only truly rely on yourself.

But that is trauma… & that is Satan taking your trauma & instead of encouraging you into the loving arms of our great, capable Healer (God), it is Satan instead convincing us to isolate & try endlessly & exhaustively to try to manage on our own… a way that was never meant to be as a part of God’s original design of US.

If You Really Had Faith…

Many of us have grown up in the church (aka GOING to church), hearing how we should be for God “if we truly have faith.” Many of us have grown up seeing displayed for us the “necessity” to be good enough for God because we “have faith” & therefore “should be able to handle it just fine.”

How damaging an ideal that is!

God tells us “faith like a mustard seed can move mountains.” A mustard seed is itty bitty. In other words, it’s not at all about having ENOUGH faith, but rather about WHO your faith is IN that matters.

We Were Not Made to Be Self-Sufficient

But I am getting sidetracked… my point in mentioning that little nugget of truth that I need to constantly remind myself—that it’s not about what YOU can do FOR God, but what GOD can do if you are trusting Him MORE than you trust YOURSELF—is that we were NOT made to be self-sufficient.

We were made to NEED help.

And the toxic, false (non-Biblical) lessons we feed ourselves of our call to be holy meaning specifically that we can NEVER show or reveal imperfection/weakness/vulnerability to one another is SO DAMAGING.

We were MADE to NEED HELP.

… Help from God & from others… that we are to lift up, encourage, edify, build up, sharpen, correct-in-loving-concern-not-in-self-righteous-judgement, & LOVE one another!

No One Is Perfect… Especially Not ME

And get this… because we ALL (literally, ALL) of us make mistakes, are imperfect, are limited, get it wrong sometimes, don’t know everything, & need HELP… we can learn to let our guard down & just be HONEST with others about our own flaws.

Because, listen up to this… we are not supposed to be displaying to the world how WE’VE got it all together… but how GOD holds it all together.

We are to accept our own frail human condition & our great need for our even greater God… showing our weaknesses & trading that for God’s HELP & GRACE with every step.

Come Together in Humility & Grace

And we are meant to come together in that type of humility & grace & love for one another, constantly reminding each other that God is always waiting & able to help… that He cares SO MUCH for us that even when we ignored His perfect, designed ways, as spelled out to us in the Bible & even when we live our way as if we know better than this all-knowing eternal God… EVEN WHEN… His plan all along, from before time, was to rescue us through the willing, loving sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

And that because of Jesus Christ, we can find forgiveness… we can find healing… we can find restoration & GRACE in the arms of our great, awesome, & loving God.

Not That You’re Enough… But That HE IS

Allow yourself the grace to admit your own human frailty & to admit you were MADE TO NEED GOD & each other… & instead of working hard to prove you’re enough… work to prove that HE IS.

Seek community in The Church FAMILY. Seek to build each other up. Be on the lookout for weak spots in others & seek how you can help… whether it be encouraging a single mother with meals… or cleaning your church building… or offering to mow someone’s lawn after surgery… or being a shoulder to cry on in grief….

Or, even in just saying, “Hey, I don’t have all the answers & you don’t have to beat yourself up for not having them either. We weren’t made to be self-sufficient… we were made to need God & each other, so let’s ask God for help. Can we talk to God about it real quick & let Him know how you’re feeling/hurting & ask for His help right now? I know He can help much better than I ever could. And I will ask Him to help me know where I can help you, too.”

Not Just Well-Meaning Words…

That statement of offering to pray about ideas of how you can help one another is not something you say to get out of helping… to sound pious & spiritual… but out of humility & TRUST that God REALLY DOES KNOW how to help best.

And when God nudges your heart to act on their behalf & lend them a hand, be ready to turn your anxieties about lack of time, lack of ability, or lack of resources back to your own prayers of request to Him, “Hey God, I don’t know how to do that thing you’re nudging my heart to help with, though, & it makes me nervous & I want to avoid it even though I feel guilty feeling that way…. Can You help me overcome my apprehensions & give me the courage & wisdom to know how to help them in a way that gives you glory & honor & displays Your great love for them? Please don’t let me give in to fear & allow Satan to pull me away because I don’t know how on my own… because I know You are MORE than capable of helping where I lack… & because I know I was MADE to NEED YOU. So, please… help me.”

Strive Toward Community

We Need Each Other. Strive toward community with others & always SHINE HOPE by pointing out our need for our great & loving need-Provider. And not the “needs” we have already decided or determined we need… & thus judging His level & care based on OUR limited-perspective solutions… but trusting that God sees the WHOLE picture & has 100% PERFECT knowledge & wisdom to handle it way better than you ever could.

Shine hope by acknowledging your need of God, through Christ, with the leading & help of the Holy Spirit & POINTING to Him in ALL things… & striving to come together with others in humility & love & GRACE.

Vulnerability isn’t a weakness. It’s a reality.

But He’s got you, babe.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week!

A Note from Michelle:

This blog/website has been running for TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Nairobi Necklace

Small hammered ovals & ethically sourced bone shapes adorn this golden necklace that shimmers in the light. Crafted in Kenya.

Artisan Information:

In Kenya, where many people struggle with starvation & poverty, the women we partner with are defying the odds! Your purchase empowers these women to earn an income, overcome physical disabilities, & become important parts of their communities!

Purchase this piece & empower a woman in Kenya!

How You Can Help:

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!

My Misunderstandings About God

Now this isn’t a topic I ever thought I would write about.

I grew up believing God to be all about rules. I felt pressured to be perfect… pressured to be more than I felt I could live up to. Following God for me was laced in the guilt & shame of never quite feeling like I measured up to His standards.

I thought you live, trying to do your best to live by all the rules (strained, tired, guilt-ridden, just doing your best to make God happy), & then you die & get to go to Heaven (if you trusted Jesus to save you versus yourself).

And reading verses in the Bible where Jesus is quoted as saying, “I have come to give life & to give it abundantly,” well, I just didn’t understand how that kind of life could be considered “abundant.” (John 10:10) (… Unless I clenched my jaw, forced a smile, & said, “of course it’s abundant life because God said it was!” while trying to force reasons to support that claim.)

God Knows Better

But, as in all things where God says one thing while I believe another, I have learned that instead of taking my personal perspective as TRUTH (which is usually my go-to response), I instead need to ask God for HIS PERSPECTIVE to help me shift how mine differs from His Word (the Bible)—Starting from a place of, “Well, God is GOD & I am just a person, so maybe He might be more right than I am… no matter how right I feel I am.”

So, this has been a journey of learning to submit my perspective of who I believe God to be & instead asking God to show me who He is, while reading His Word so I know it’s the Holy Spirit’s leading, versus Satan’s sometimes subtle lies & tricks.

“For God So Loved the World…”

And what I have been learning has shocked me. Like, it has literally rocked my world & has made me see God through such different lenses than the rule-warlord I once viewed Him as.

I want you to know Him this way, too.

I may end up even doing a short series on this, because seriously, this perspective will make you ENJOY submitting to God’s ways, ENJOY turning to God when you have wronged Him, ENJOY relying on God when your world is falling apart, & ENJOY SPENDING TIME with God when your world seems too crazy to fit a single extra thing into it. It will begin to be something you crave more with each new perspective shift.

I want you to learn to ENJOY GOD this way, as I am slowly growing to understand how much He really does love us.

Who Will We Allow to Influence Our Perspective of God? The World? Satan? Self? Or God Himself?

Admittedly, this is not easy for me—enjoying God—because I am still very much living under my old perspectives, without even realizing I am doing it most times, while gradually recognizing necessary perspective shifts as God shapes my heart to know & love Him more.

Just Practicality… Or Is There More to God’s Design?

First, let me begin by asking you a very simple question. And do yourself a favor & be completely honest with yourself… you have nothing to prove to anyone, I can’t hear your response, & God already knows what you’re thinking better than you let yourself admit… so be honest!

Do you think God created all that He did merely for practical purposes?

God’s Creation is such a beautiful & potent reminder in considering the idea of enjoying God, because we see it everywhere we look (even when you look at yourself in the mirror, beautiful!)

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow!

Instead of listing my thoughts, I am just going to write out some of my praises to God for you & pray that it be a reminder or realization for you of how much our great God really does love you! Hint: He went WAY beyond practical in His creation!

Lord, thank You for lavishing Your great love on me. You have used a gentle cool breeze to refresh my heart on days I felt despairing & rushed. Thank You for expressing Your gentle care for me that way. Thank You for the way that cool water feels against my skin on a hot day, whether it be rain, a shower, or when swimming. Thank You for how refreshing fresh clean water tastes when I am tired. Thank You for how therapeutic hotter water is on tired muscles. Thank You for sunsets & sunrises & all of the beautiful artwork You create in the sky moment by moment, always shifting & changing, but always so beautiful! Thank You for how soft kitties are & how comforting their soft fur & gentle purrs are. Thank You for the feeling of warmth from sunshine on my skin, feeling as if You’re wrapping me in a nice, cozy hug. Thank You for how many beautiful flowers You have made! I love seeing all the plants You have made, in all of their beautiful diversity. Thank You for using so many colors & textures & sizes & shapes in creation. You are SO creative & even the grass blowing like waves in the wind is so beautiful. Thank You for the breathtaking view of the ocean waves & the comfort that their sounds can bring to my hurried heart. Thank You for the lightning & thunder in reminding me how powerful You really are—it’s such a comforting reminder that I can fall back & rest in Your capable arms. Thank You!!! Thank You for creating me with hair I can style & play with & a face canvas I can color with beautiful colors. Thank You for nails where I can add a personalized pop of fun. Thank You for my beautiful blue eyes with their specks of gray & gold. Thank You for the soft texture of warm sand or grass between my toes & for all of the fresh air smells. God, I could go on for weeks just thinking of all of the beautiful ways where You went above & beyond practicality just to shine Your strength & wisdom & power & LOVE on me. You are so lavishing in Your love. Thank You! And help me, Lord, always, to KNOW & LOVE You MORE. AMEN.

Enjoying God

Pull out a journal & take a minute to write or say your own praises to God & remember all the ways He expresses His love for you, displayed even in just His creation of the world around you. Just spend some time ENJOYING GOD.

I encourage you, Beautiful creation of Almighty God… if you are questioning me right now, rolling your eyes, or even slightly struggling to see how you can really, truly enjoy God versus seeing Him as a strict Rule-Giver, PLEASE ask God to help you see how you can know & love Him more & KEEP asking Him as He gently shows You His loving nature of kind gentleness… a King who uses His vast riches to pour out His great wonders for us to enjoy.

Let’s Revisit This Later…

I have so much more I can say about this, so let’s just call this part 1, to be continued in a later post.

But for now, start by asking God to show you how to know & love Him more & keep asking Him until your human perspective, tainted by the sins in the world & by Satan’s subtly believed deceit, is brightened by the joy God wishes to lavish over you even as just seen in His wise & beautiful creation.

Shine HOPE by enjoying & appreciating God’s beautiful design in creation & all the EXTRAS He included just because He knew it would make you smile.

He loves you!!

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week!

A Note from Michelle:

This blog/website has been running for TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Holly Necklace

Trades of Hope Co-Founder Holly’s passion is to empower women to be all God created them to be & to live out their potential. Her desire is to see women live out their calling with pride & dignity, no matter their culture or past. This piece is a reflection of the pride & skills a woman rescued from the brothels has when given the opportunity. A delicate piece, this golden/pink druzy necklace sparkles in the light.

Artisan Information:

In Asia, poverty leads many women to be sexually exploited in brothels. These women want to provide for their families but have so few options. But through your purchase, women are being rescued from these brothels & rehabilitated. Holistic care is given to these women, including a shelter, job training, healthcare, counseling, & educational grants for themselves & their children. You can help these women experience restoration for their future!

Purchase this piece & empower a woman in Asia!

How You Can Help:

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!

God Is Quick & Ready to Forgive

I have talked before about God’s call for us to forgive others, but today, I want to talk about guilt, condemnation, shame, etc. before God & connect HIS response to US to how God calls us to forgive others.

Today, in watching church online, the pastor made a valid comment about the fact that when we turn to God in our shame & guilt, He is quick & ready to forgive us.

The pastor ALSO made the comment that as we mess up again & again (as we all do, if we’re honest with ourselves), God is STILL quick & ready to forgive us when we come to Him, recognize where we distrusted & therefore disobeyed Him, & then ask Him for forgiveness.… He wants us to come to Him in them again & again!

Feeling Condemnation

I don’t remember when it was that this happened, but at least a few months ago, I was thinking about feeling condemnation (which, by the way, is from Satan trying to guilt us away from turning to God for forgiveness) & how terrible it feels to make the very same mistake I have already made so many times in trusting MYSELF in a particular area versus trusting God’s way in it.

I felt so disgusted with myself, rightly so, but as I am sometimes slow to come to God in that ickiness, I finally, reluctantly began to pray & ask God to show me mercy & forgive me. I told Him I knew I messed up AGAIN & that I could hear Satan taunting me that “how many times do I have to ask God to forgive me & shouldn’t I just stop bothering to ask God at all?”

It ached my heart, but it seemed like a valid point to me.

One Too Many Times?

Asking God to forgive the umpteenth time I messed up in a particular way felt like mocking God. I was afraid to ask Him to forgive me. I was afraid I ran out of His forgiveness in that area.

And then the verse I learned SO long ago washed itself over my mind as I prayed… “70 times 7.”

That’s how many times Jesus Himself encouraged Peter as the appropriate amount of times to forgive someone… not in a necessarily literal 490 times… but that when Peter felt gracious in asking Jesus whether SEVEN times was a good amount to forgive… Jesus responded with, no… “but, seventy TIMES seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22)

His point…? Go above & beyond in how you forgive someone. Forgive even when they least deserve it.

That’s How God Forgives US

And in that moment of prayer, God reminded me of that instruction from Jesus’ mouth, “70 x 7.”

That’s how much He tells us to forgive others because that’s how much He is ready to forgive US.

God’s mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Oops, I Did It Again

He doesn’t say, “Michelle, OPE, you have messed up your last time & I’m DONE!”

Instead, when I come to Him ugly crying, ashamed that I’ve OOPS & done it again, feeling crummy, disgusting & just so sick of myself… God whispers… “70×7, Michelle. 70×7.”

He doesn’t want me to turn away from Him & try to carry that sin & those wrongs on my own shoulders, forever beating myself up for them, never moving forward.

He wants me to come to Him again & AGAIN for RESTORATION, TRUSTING He WILL forgive me again & AGAIN.

I (We) Can Trust Him

TRUSTING that His grace REALLY IS sufficient for my weakness.

Trusting His great, endless love for me.

Trusting Jesus’ work for me (& us) on the cross as ENOUGH.

Trusting God to forgive me 70×7 & beyond.

He wants us to come to Him no matter how many times we have to come to Him.

Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs… & God IS Love

He doesn’t keep record of wrong because God tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:5 that LOVE “keeps no record of wrongs,” & then, in 1 John 4:8, we are told that “God IS love.” (Emphasis mine.)

God’s Forgiveness… 70 x 7.

Focus on What GOD Says

So, stop letting Satan keep you trapped in that disgusted, worthless, I-have-messed-up-one-too-many-times state of condemnation…. Come to God AGAIN.

Because God is always quick & ready to forgive… 70 x 7.

John 3:17, “For God did not send His Son [Jesus] into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

John 10:10, “The thief’s [Satan’s] purpose is to steal & kill & destroy. My [Jesus’] purpose is to give life & to give it more abundantly.”

TURN TO HIM. AGAIN. & again & again & again & again & again… to infinity… & beyond.

Strive for God’s Honor & Glory… But Turn to Him When You Make Mistakes

Should we always strive to live a life that honors Him, revealing our trust in Him by doing what He says to do & asking for His help when we DON’T trust enough, so He can help us? YES.

Will we mess it up & get it wrong? YES.

Will we mess it up & get it wrong AGAIN, in sometimes the exact same way? YES.

BUT God calls us to GO TO HIM every time. Every single time.

Yes, even then. And then… & for that too.

God’s Forgiveness… 70 x 7

Whether you run or whether you slump in defeat… Call out to Him & ask for His mercy.

He will be quick & ready to give it.

Shine hope by trusting God to forgive you, even at your worst & even when that worst is a repeat offense. Shine hope by trusting Him to be quick & ready to forgive you every single time.

70 x 7.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week!

A Note from Michelle:

This blog/website has been running for TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Turning Leaf Set

This silver finish hammered metal necklace with matching earrings was inspired by the beautiful shapes of leaves.

Artisan Information:

The women we partner with in India do so much more than just create beautiful products. With every purchase, another woman is empowered out of poverty to be self-reliant! Women have the opportunity to earn an income, attend financial management classes, & receive education & healthcare. These women are now able to give their family a promising future because of your purchase!

Purchase this piece & empower a woman in India!

What Do Our Actions Say?

Some of you, like I would have, will read the title of this post & immediately say to yourself, “Jesus, of course!”

But, do our actions say we trust Jesus? Or morality/religion?

I grew up in the church. I was taught all the right things to do & to say. I knew the stereotypical answer to every question was ‘JESUS.’

And even though I understood at a young age that I did bad things sometimes (like lie or hit my sister), that those actions separated me from God & made Him unhappy… & that Jesus took my punishment on Himself so that I could be forgiven… I still grew up with a sense of morality guiding my actions, versus trusting in God, through Jesus.

What’s Your Motivator?

Have you ever felt condemnation leading your decisions? Like you didn’t want to make God angry when you messed up, so you did ______________ to help you overcome the shame or guilt you felt?

Or, maybe you felt like as long as you tried to make “good” choices, that’s all God really cared about & you went about making your own decisions & leading your own life your own way, as long as you felt like a good person while doing it?

There are often so many ways that this sometimes subconscious morality motivator has permeated the way that we live life.

Subtle… Subconscious… But So True

So often I didn’t even realize that I was letting morality guide my decisions more than I was actually letting GOD lead my life.

Do you do that, too? Can you think of some examples of this in your own life?

God has really been waking me up to the fact that I do this far too often.

I am often subconsciously letting religion/morality guide me rather than a humble surrender to God, through Jesus… rather than a loving trust in a God who loves us SO much & who is also perfectly reliable, trustworthy, wise, powerful, strong, knowledgeable, etc.!

What Jesus Did Was ENOUGH

Jesus already paid my debt. In full. Forever. I have a zero balance to what I owe God (& good thing, too, because I could never even get close to repaying Him).

I don’t owe God anything. Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient.

“BUT WAIT,” you might think to yourself, “that doesn’t justify doing wrong & it doesn’t mean you can just live however you want & dishonor God just because your debt is paid!” Exactly right.

But my hope in this post is to bring to light where our motivations are in living a life that honors God.

Ask Yourself These Questions

1. Are you trying to be good enough for Him?

NO NEED. God loves us so fully & completely that nothing can separate us from it nor diminish it, even at our very absolute worst.

2. Are you trying to earn God’s grace?

NO NEED. Jesus paid the debt we owe for our sinful, selfish choices. PAID IN FULL. As long as we accept Jesus’ sacrificial gift on our behalf & place our trust in Him as our hope (rather than ourselves or our ‘good’ actions), then we’re all set there.

3. Are you exhaustively trying to keep an image of perfection?

NO NEED. We need to be pointing to Jesus as our hope IN our human imperfections & limitations.

Human perfection is unattainable. We ALL struggle. We ALL get it wrong sometimes. We ALL make mistakes. We ALL need grace. We ALL need God’s wisdom, strength, comfort, peace, love, grace, hope, courage, power, help, etc. EVERY DAY.

Our weaknesses… HIS GLORY. Don’t live to prove you have it all together. Live honestly in all your human weakness, pointing to & leaning into God every step of the way. Make it all about what HE can do, rather than what YOU can do.

Don’t Get It Twisted

I want to pause to point out how I HUGELY misunderstood Question 3 above.

I thought that BECAUSE I was a Christian, I SHOULD be able to be perfect.

What I didn’t then realize, was that my NEED for Him does not end at salvation (accepting Jesus’ payment for my sins).

Don’t ever think that when the Bible tells us God has given us all we need in order to follow Him well, that we don’t need HIM for & through it all!

You don’t become God when you become a Christian… you just gain full access to His resources. So, don’t neglect to ask for His help!

A Grateful Trust

Those reasons stated in the questions I listed above are NOT the right motivators to live righteously (righteousness is trying to please God & living the way He says is best, in the Bible).

BUT, if we look at those “NO NEED” reasons I just mentioned & instead are living out of GRATEFUL TRUST in our great, loving God, THEN we’re getting it right.

Do You Trust Morality… Or Jesus?

So, where are your motivations? Will you let yourself be honest with YOU & with God? Do you trust morality… or Jesus?

Are you trying to measure up? Are you trying to earn God’s forgiveness/grace? Are you trying to put on a perfect façade so others think you’re doing a good enough job as a Christian?

Or, are you trusting God’s love for you… trusting Jesus’ grace for you… & pointing to Him as your true source of HOPE?

Ask Him Where You’re Not Sure

And if you, like I did for SO LONG, question whether God really does love you that much or how much exactly you could entrust to God or in being vulnerable in pointing to GOD as your hope… ASK GOD for help in even helping you to trust what God says/knows about it.

My Prayer:

Start there. Bow your heart & say something like:

“God, I believe, somehow I believe… but help my unbelief. Help me trust that You really do love me that much. I don’t see it sometimes… I mess up too much & I was so stubborn & rebellious & self-centered & wise-in-my-own-eyes, not trusting You. I STILL struggle sometimes to trust You over myself as my first instinct. So, help me! And Lord, help me to trust Your GRACE. I don’t have to add to it or deserve it. Grace is, by definition, UNDESERVED… & yet You still, though it be undeserved, gave it & offered it to me. Help me to rest in that… to have peace in Your power to overcome my worst & forgive it all & to help me be better step by step. And help me to not make following You about how good I AM as a follower, but rather how inept & foolish & selfish & weak I am in light of how GREAT & AWESOME & INFINITE & LOVING You are. Help me point to You in every weakness, every insecurity, every fear, every doubt, every worry, every stress, every mistake, every shame… we’re all in this together, all making mistakes… so help me to be real & honest with my journey to others so that they can more clearly see YOU, not me. YOU are the hope I should be pointing to in everything. Help me be okay showing my weakness for Your glory. And help me to lean into You through everything… to seek to please You with my life out of gratitude for Your grace. And help me to TRUST You enough to do life YOUR way & to ask You to guide me in it & to help me through it every step because You know I fail often. So, HELP ME. Thank You that You always make Yourself available to us night or day, any time, anywhere & You never for a moment tire of us nor lack the wisdom, grace, strength, comfort, power, etc. that we seek & request of You. Thank You for being our infinite & gentle, kind, patient, & LOVING God. I love You. Help me to know & love You more every day. AMEN.”

Amen & amen.

Check Your Motivators & Shine HOPE

Shine Hope by trusting His love for you (& asking for His help in trusting it if you don’t trust it), by trusting His grace (Jesus paid it ALL), & by living with your heart on your sleeves… Not trying to be perfect, but pointing to the One who IS—Jesus Christ, our only true & real HOPE. Shine HIM. <3

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week!

A Note from Michelle:

This blog/website has been running for TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Mirage Earrings

With just a touch of glimmer these earrings are fun & easy to wear.

Artisan Information:

In Asia, poverty leads many women to being sexually exploited in brothels. These women want to provide for their families but have so few options. Through your purchase, women are being rescued from these brothels & rehabilitated. Holistic care is given to these women, including a shelter, job training, healthcare, counseling, & educational grants for artisans & their children. You can help these women experience restoration for their future!

How You Can Help:

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!

A Jabbled Mind

I have a lot of stuff floating around my mind today. I have a big case of the, “I don’t wanna.”

Have you ever had days where you just can’t seem to sit down & concentrate on one thing? Because that’s totally me today.

Today has been a game of, “how long can I put off sitting down to write my blog, because I just can’t seem to sort out my thoughts & sit still for more than a few minutes at a time.”

But here I am, so that’s a start…?

Wanting to Blend In

Writing my blog these last two years has taken me on a crazy ride.

When I first started, I was afraid of not being a blend-in-able nobody.

I was basically afraid of facing the critical & harsh world of online/social media. I am most likely never going to be completely over this, I imagine, because one of my “love languages” is affirmation & while that means I flourish when others believe in me, negative responses make me want to quit.

I just pray about this & know that if/when it happens, I will just need to cling to God & step forward with His help, because this girl won’t make it far otherwise. (Good thing God is big enough for the both of us, huh?)

A Voice in the Wind

After praying over this anxiety & asking God to help me trust Him more than my fears, the blog began… & so did other, new worries.

Not too long after beginning my blog, Satan tried scaring me away from shining for Christ by making me feel like a voice in the wind.

I had such passion & excitement, mixed with diligent planning, praying, & preparations, to share my heart & point to Jesus’ hope in everything I talked about… but no one seemed to care one single bit.

It was pure crickets.

I felt alone. I felt my efforts were wasted. I felt my voice simply echoed over empty rooms.

He Is SO Worth It

But again, God is always ready to use faced trials in our obedience to follow His lead as an opportunity to teach & grow me & that, sister, is exactly what He did.

God showed me through that LONG time of silence a lesson about priorities.

Was my priority in being heard or in showing up in obedience to Jesus Christ whether I felt heard or not, shining a light of hope in Him no matter who noticed? Was my goal recognition or putting God’s glory first regardless?

Even If Just the Background Noise

It was through that wasteland of cricket responses that I learned that not everyone who notices will say so, but I should show up & point to Jesus Christ anyway.

It was through that wasteland that I learned that even if NO ONE was paying attention, silent or not, it was worth showing up for Jesus.

Even if to others I was just background noise that sang the praises of my Father God, I was willing to show up & keep being that background noise that always pointed to Him as my hope.

It wasn’t about me. It was about Him.

Growing Pains Lead to Growth

But, of course, the lessons didn’t stop there.

Next, after growing in understanding my need to turn to God in my fears & after licking my wounds of feeling invisible in my efforts & exchanging that perspective to just show up & point to Him anyway… Next came a new fear: Never feeling like I had anything important to say.

Satan keeps on coming & God keeps on using it to make my trust in God even stronger. Take that, Satan!

You can probably guess that God ALSO used this insecurity to grow me… He did. He’s always with me.

Not How Great I Am

It’s easy to look at my mistakes, my failures, my insecurities, my awkwardness (this one is a big one, y’all), my PAST, my lacking, my insufficiencies, my everything-that-is-less-than-perfect-about-me… & think to myself & to God, “God, are You kidding me? I canNOT do this! I mean, LOOK at me!? I am not worthy to be a voice for You. I am not good enough to stand up & shout Your glory. I will screw it up… completely. I am too imperfect for this. I can’t.”

But God’s voice comes as a gentle reminder over my heart, “I made you. I don’t make mistakes. You’re human & you’re limited, yes… But I am Almighty AND I love you beyond your comprehension. I will help you. I don’t need you to be perfect. I just need you to show up for Me & let Me work through it. Your flaws, My glory. Just show up. Lean into Me, let Me strengthen you, let Me lead, & just show up. The world needs more people willing to be a shining light of hope in the darkness of sin & despair. I am that hope. So, just show up & shine & let Me do the rest.”

Just SHOW UP

And so, I come each week, knowing some weeks I probably sound like a rambling baboon.

But I show up. Because He’s worth showing up for.

God’s Not Done with Me Yet…

And finally, there are days like today, that have been showing up more & more frequently & consistently lately—Not being able to sit still or concentrate & then procrastinating REAL hard as a result.

And, looking back at God’s track record above, through the struggles on my now 2-year journey with this blog (not to mention every other trial I have turned to Him with in my life), I am pretty confident that God has a plan in this struggle as well.

He’s Always with Me… & You

So, I turn to Him in it. I lay down my grief & whining & dragging of my feet. I open up honestly to Him about my cases of, “I don’t wannas.” And I ask for His help… for Him to speak to someone, anyone, even if just one person, through my chaotic mess of thoughts as I sit to write.

And hopefully that’s you. Hopefully this encourages you to take every struggle, every trial, every “I don’t wanna” to HIM & ask for His help through every one of them.

I Pray for EASY

Do I often wish & ask God to make it easier, with less struggle & trial on this blog journey? YES.

But then I would be even more tempted to stop relying on Him & start relying more on myself.

Relying on myself NEVER ends well.

So, I will forever be grateful for the trials that remind me of my GREAT weakness & His GREAT willingness to help me every step of the way.

God Is Infinite… With Infinite Love for Us

Satan may have a slew of tactics to keep us silent, make us want to quit, & distract us away from shining for Jesus… BUT, God is INFINITELY bigger AND opens His doors wide for our EVERY petition & request.

• NO request is too small. He is infinite.
• NO request is too big. He is infinite.
• NO request is too hard. He is infinite.
• NO request is too inconvenient. He is infinite.
• NO request is too silly or “inconsequential”. He is infinite.

Ask Him… No Matter WHAT Your Struggle Is… Just ASK HIM

JUST ASK HIM. Be honest & raw & real about your heart & your screw ups & your “I don’t wannas” & go ahead & ASK HIM FOR HIS HELP.

Shine Hope by taking your messes to our infinite, almighty, loving God & by asking Him for His help through every single one.

He is infinite AND He loves you, Beautiful.

(Done writing with 3 hours left before my deadline… not including the need to do editing, graphics, & my Join My Tribe emails… Boy, I cannot WAIT until the time change hits again, because then it will give me an extra hour I can procrastinate each week, haha. (We don’t have daylight savings time in Japan.) But maybe I should pray through that, too.) 😉

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week!

A Note from Michelle:

This blog/website has been running for TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Radiant Necklace Set

On-trend set of 3 layered necklaces (only 1 shown) that can be worn together or separately, featuring a labradorite stone, hammered discs, and a blue topaz crystal drop.

Artisan Information:

In India, poverty is rampant & fair working conditions are hard to find. Every purchase provides women with income, access to healthcare, education for their children, & care for elderly family members. Many of these artisans have been exploited by sweatshops in the past but are now receiving fair wages as artisans in safe & caring fair-trade workshops.

Purchase this piece & empower a woman in India!

How You Can Help:

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!

Hesitantly Agreed

I have been praying about what I should talk about today, asking God to give me something I should share. This was the topic that kept coming back to mind.

When I first considered agreeing to this topic, I felt like, “God, no. Something else please. This isn’t something I’m very good at.”

Then I felt a gentle whisper over my heart, “Your blog shouldn’t be about sharing what YOU’RE good at, but rather what I’M good at, even when you’re not.”

*Sigh*

Fellow Traveler in Need of God

So, again, I come to you not as some kind of expert on the topic, but as a fellow traveler on this journey called “life” to hopefully encourage BOTH of us to look to where our only true hope comes from—Almighty GOD, through Jesus’ loving sacrifice for us & the Holy Spirit’s comfort, wisdom, guidance, & help.

Living Hard Things with Grace

Living through hard things, with grace. What a difficult thing to consider.

I don’t think any of us enter a hard life circumstance thinking we will struggle quite as much as we will, but hard things are hard & I know I am often surprised by how quickly I want to scream, “Uncle!” & give up.

I can’t even handle small stresses very well, ha.

Setting the Stage

For example, I had been waiting on a package, knowing the sender had accidentally put the wrong box number & having visited the post office several times to try to make sure it was sorted out, being informed each time not to worry because it “will self-correct & everything will be just fine.”

But, knowing intent or even good training cannot prevent mistakes in a monotonous job, I wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page & aware, doing my part as best I could without erring on the side of nagging.

Well, all of the reassurance was for nothing because guess what, the package was automatically & immediately returned upon arrival.

Caving in under the Pressure

I was incredulous & was quite ready to slam my hand on the desk & unleash some verbal wrath upon the employees, in a “Are you kidding me? After ALL that reassurance & all my trips here just to make sure & NONE of it made any difference? Are you serious right now?!?”

But I had to take a *very* deep breath, do my best at a gracious reply, & walk out before I lost my resolve.

I then spent the whole drive home (& about 20 minutes in our driveway) rehashing my trouble, concern, efforts, & the inevitable mistake of returning my package anyway, complaining & whining in my head. I basically threw an adult temper tantrum in my car.

Humanity (Including Me) Has Many Weaknesses, but God Offers His Infinite Strength

And when I got tired of my wrath, I took a deep breath, realized how bad & unforgiving my attitude was for something that really wasn’t that big of deal in the big story of life, & I immediately felt some stubborn remorse nagging at my heart, reminding me how NOT well I had handled that situation.

Did I have a right to be frustrated & upset? Yes. Did I have a right to treat them like trash (even if just in my thoughts) because of it? Nope.

I was being self-focused, & I had turned righteous anger into bitterness & a hateful, unforgiving attitude of sin.

Finally Turning it over to God

*sigh* I told you I wasn’t good at this. I can’t even handle someone messing up my MAIL.

So, I hung my head low & cried again, this time for my bad attitude & frustration that I had let take over my afternoon instead of giving it to God.

And I finally gave it to Him.

My Prayer Sounded Something Like This:

“God, I’m sorry. I am so frustrated right now because I was really looking forward to that & now I have to wait for it to return & re-ship & after all my efforts to prevent this & it was all wasted. I just feel so defeated & disappointed & angry. Why couldn’t it have just worked out? I tried! I tried to help fix it. Why did I get my hopes up so high? But I shouldn’t have let my anger take over me like that. I’m sorry for how I reacted in my heart. I shouldn’t have had such a sour & terrible attitude toward them. It was a mistake. It’s a new system & they’re trying to work out the kinks & everyone makes mistakes. Please forgive me for getting so hurtful & angry over something that’s so small overall. Help grow me in it & teach me gratefulness & to trust in You through the messes in life. I don’t like when things don’t work out, but even in them, You have a beautiful plan I can’t always see. Even in holding & comforting me through it, letting me know of Your love on a deeper level through my hurts. Thank You for those moments of the gentle reminders of Your love & care for me & all of us. Help me to forgive. Help me to realize I am often just as in need of Your great grace as anyone else & to thus give grace to others much more willingly & quickly. Help me trust You more than my circumstances working out ideally—especially in this covid world we live in right now. Nothing is normal anymore & it’s hard. It’s an adjustment with hidden culture shocks that pop up unexpectedly because so much of life is no longer normal. Help me to cling to You & trust You & listen to You in humble trusting love. Thank You for hearing me gripe & complain & for Your endless, wonderful graciousness. Thank You for helping me have better, more loving perspective & continue to grow me in that way, having grace in living the hard things. Thank You & AMEN.”

Failing TOWARD Grace

Life & sharing isn’t about always getting it right or always knowing how to handle every situation.

Life’s messy & hard & we’re not meant to be good at any of it on our own. We’re meant to need Jesus’ grace. We’re meant to need Almighty God’s power. We’re meant to need the guidance & comfort & wisdom & strength of the Holy Spirit.

We’re meant to need Him.

We’re Meant to Need Him

So, whatever part of your life feels messy or hard or makes you want to yell & cry in your car for 30 minutes, call out to God. Pour out all your heartache to Him & ask for His help. He’s listening & waiting to help because He loves us that much.

Shine Hope by admitting your need for Him & calling out to Him through every struggle & trial of life.

He’s got you.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week!

A Note from Michelle:

This blog/website has been running for TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Turning Leaf Set

This silver finish hammered metal necklace with matching earrings was inspired by the beautiful shapes of leaves. (And also resembles dragonfly wings!)

Artisan Information:

The women we partner with in India do so much more than just create beautiful products. With every purchase, another woman is empowered out of poverty to be self-reliant! Women have the opportunity to earn an income, attend financial management classes, & receive education & healthcare. These women are now able to give their family a promising future because of your purchase!

Purchase this piece & empower a woman in India!

How You Can Help:

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!

A Question to Consider

Okay, think about this question for a second—“Do you trust in prayer or in God?”

Now, your first instincts might be to ask, “But aren’t they basically the same thing? We pray BECAUSE we believe in God?” In theory, yes… but oftentimes reality looks a little different.

Praying “Right”

To clarify what I mean, I used to think of prayer as saying the magic words, like if I ask enough times, with the right words, in the right timing then maybe I’ll get what I wish.

I was putting more weight on the words I was saying or how I was saying it than the actual trust in the One I was speaking them to.

Flip the Script

Instead, God has taught me to flip how I see prayer. To look to God, remind myself of His great & endless, infinite power, plus His grace & love & patience & gentleness—to consider WHO God really is & THEN just simply TALK to Him.

Saying, “God, You are infinite & so much greater than I can even wrap my head around. I don’t even DESERVE a moment of Your time, & yet You open Your throne room to me & my petitions with eager willingness to hear my call. You are so loving & kind & patient. Help me remember that & know that more. I need You way more than I realize. Forgive me for how self-capable I believe myself to be so often & help me to trust You more. Please help me with _________. I am struggling & I know this is a small matter to You no matter how major & impossible it seems to me, so help me to lean into You instead of myself & help me know what to do. Thank You so much for Your great love for me & the world in whole. I love You. AMEN!”

Do You trust in Prayer or in God?

Instead of putting my faith in my words, frequency, urgency, or any other HOW that I pray, the power comes in HIM, not in HOW we pray.

So, do you put your faith more in your prayers (or try to put your faith in them), or are you learning to place your faith in the Who you are asking in your prayers?

One of the most important takeaways from this is that when God answers differently than our prayers wished for, it is not because we didn’t pray hard enough or pray correctly. It is because we hope & trust in a God Who knows MUCH better than we do & we can always fall back into His arms, knowing the “No” we received was given from 100% PERFECT wisdom, understanding, knowledge, & most importantly endless LOVE for us.

He Is Always Near

He is just a thought away, never far, always close. Reach out your heart to Him & ask Him to hear your call. His love for you can never be fully understood, for it goes much deeper than we can possibly comprehend. Give Him a chance to show that great love to your heart. He loves you.

Shine Hope by trusting HIM more than HOW you ask/talk to Him. <3

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week!

A Note from Michelle:

This blog/website has been running for TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Northern Lights Studs

These studs hold labradorite stone, displaying multiple captivating colors that vary in different exposures to light, just like the Northern Lights themselves.

Artisan Information:

The women we partner with in India do so much more than just create beautiful products. With every purchase, another woman is empowered out of poverty to be self-reliant! Women have the opportunity to earn an income, attend financial management classes, & receive education & healthcare. These women are now able to give their family a promising future because of your purchase!

Purchase this piece & empower a woman in India!

How You Can Help:

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!

Meekness… It’s What Bwings Us Togevah Today

So, what is meekness?

The coolest way I have heard this word described was as “power under control.”

You see, God designed our bodies & our minds to do some pretty amazing things. Just think: mathematics, physics, calculus, engineering, artwork, athletics, & SO much more. It’s incredible! (Now, each of us have our strengths & are certainly not gifted in every area, for sure, but as a whole, humanity can create & build tremendous accomplishments, don’t you agree?)

The problem we all seem to struggle with in this grand design of humanity is the simple, yet quite challenging, practice of meekness.

But, I’ve Got This…!

It can be all too easy to see what we can do & run with it, never once inquiring of our great Maker for the best use of our God-given abilities.

We tend to either neglect our gifting, abuse our gifting, or use our gifting for purposes of our own, versus God’s (which, arguably, is the same as abusing it).

We talked last week, in “An Undeserved Grace” that God is 100% perfect in wisdom, understanding, & knowledge.

He also MADE us with incredible gifts! And while none of us possess every gift, we can certainly each use our unique gifts to support one another in love.

And since He is perfect in wisdom, understanding, & knowledge… AND He made us & gave us our gifts… It only stands to reason that the wise choice would be to ask Him to take the lead on how we use our gifts & how we live our lives.

Meekness in a Self-Driven Culture

I always pictured meekness as shyness or maybe timidity is a better word for how I felt. That I should shy away from using or improving my gifting.

And yet, others seem to think their gifting is for their own purposes. We could all stand to learn about having more meekness in a self-driven culture.

Meekness recognizes both boldness AND humility in perfect harmony. It represents the idea that while we know we were given wonderful gifting, they were given for a purpose,

God Just Really Does Know Best

You may be tempted to feel that God is thus trying to control you & limit you, but think of it this way, using it on your own, in your own way is really what is limiting you because you only have limited wisdom, understanding, & knowledge.

God knows PERFECTLY what is best in EVERY circumstance.

So, bowing our gifts to God is recognizing our own limitations, while acknowledging God’s perfect will & plan. It doesn’t mean we hide our strengths, but rather that we trust a perfect God over our imperfect selves to take the lead in our lives.

It is putting Him in the driver seat, allowing Him to act as Driver & Navigator, while we are the car (MADE by God). We let our God-given strengths & skills to be put to better use, trusting our loving Father to take the lead.

“Submission” Is Not a Bad Word

Words like “meekness”, “surrender”, & “submission,” sound scary because it takes control out of our own hands. But in this case, where it is being placed in the hands of ALMIGHTY God/our LOVING Heavenly Father, it is the BEST possible option, meant for both our benefit & that of everyone around us.

But… How…?

How do you become meek? How do you give up control when the “need” for control seems to be in our very nature?

Learning to know & love God more. Asking God to show you how. Asking Him to help you trust His control & to show you areas where you have a white-knuckled grip that needs to let go & let Him.

It’s okay to be terrible at meekness… join the club!

But don’t let it stop there.

Bow your head & heart to God, confess how HARD it is for you, & ask Him for His HELP, knowing how desperately you’re going to need it if you are ever to have success relinquishing control of your own life to God’s able hands & infinite wisdom.

Ask Him & don’t let fear ever keep you from asking.

God’s got you. He loves you. He is able.

Trust Him… And ASK.

Instead of THIS:

X Self-Soothe: Binging TV, food, phone time, or games to avoid stress… Turning to sex, relationships, drugs, alcohol, etc…. to feel better.

X Self-Shield: Defensiveness, avoidance, hatred, slander, gossip, withdrawal, isolation, fear, hidden hurts, not getting close to others… to protect yourself.

X Self-Solve: Stress, Just “dealing with it,” accepting things as is, acting out, coming up with your own solutions, giving up, taking a stand on your own wisdom/timing… to figure out a solution to a problem.

Try THIS:

O PRAY (Ask God) for comfort, healing, help, strength, courage, wisdom, truth & His love to help you feel better.

O PRAY (Ask God) for courage, wisdom, solutions, freedom, victory, strength, humility, meekness to help you fight trials the right way.

O PRAY (Ask God) for wisdom, solutions, direction, guidance, God’s way, patience, understanding through God’s perfect wisdom to help you solve a problem.

Let go & Let God.

Shine HOPE by learning to have a meek, submitted, & surrendered heart & life to our loving God Almighty.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.

As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

Share with friends & Subscribe by Joining My Tribe, so you never miss a week!

A Note from Michelle:

This blog/website has been running for over TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, 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, 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! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Grace Earrings

These earrings feature gold plated metal around local capiz shell.

Artisan Information:

In the Philippines, finding employment as a woman in poverty can be extremely difficult. Poor working conditions, lack of job security, & unfair pay are often the realities. Through your purchase, these women are receiving an income, health care, & social development programs. This allows these women to realize their potential & pursue their dreams in a safe environment. You have the opportunity to change lives!

Purchase this piece & empower a woman in the Philippines!

How You Can Help:

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!