Keep Your “WHY” in Life Fresh

This topic is relevant to everyone, whether it be a regular church-goer, a famous Christian artist/author/speaker, or even a pastor.

And it’s something I have had to face up to lately… with myself.

God has something to say about this topic, in Revelation 2:2-5:

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, & that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles & are not, & have found them liars; & you have persevered & have patience, & have labored for My name’s sake & have not become weary. Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent & do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly & remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” (emphasis mine)

Don’t Leave Your First Love

You see, it’s easy to get into the routine of serving Him… & doing so until it becomes just a routine.

I have to make the continual choice to choose Him & His kingdom first.

This means no running on autopilot… no “finding what works” & just sticking to that.

This means getting fresh direction & guidance from God, through maintaining regular reading of His Word & talking to Him (prayer), willing to let Him interrupt your current track for His plan.

His Great Love for Me (& You)

When I designed & launched this website several years ago now, I was coming out of a pretty dark time in my life, consumed by bitterness & stress that I didn’t know how to manage. And seeing Him grow me through such dark pain really reignited my trust in & love for Him, seeing that when I had nothing, I had everything with Him.

He was my strength & wisdom & hope when I had none to muster from within myself.

He loved me first. He was my first love. His love & care sparked my own love for & trust in Him… & out of that came this website.

What God Wants

But I have to be careful, because my heart is prone to wander.

I get wrapped up in distractions, I find a new normal that works & stick to it… & I begin to rely on my routines & habits & distractions rather than on Him.

It is true that God tells us to live righteously, to live according to His laws… but that doesn’t save me. Jesus saved me.

God sees my heart… my motivations. He knows what drives me.

He is not looking for just good behavior, but continual love for & obedience to Him.

And while I have been running this blog with a heart of obedience, praying for His guidance & help when I get stuck… I have also felt my heart begin to harden.

My Wandering Heart

I have begun to choose ME a little more often.

I have heard His gentle whisper on my heart & ignored it for my way… for comfort… for ease.

I have heard Him nudging me gently with conviction to turn back to Him… & I made choices to keep going anyway.

Satan is so subtle & I am so quick to listen to him tell me the lie that ignoring God is the easier, better route… not in outright sins, but in small ways of creating a pattern of shutting out God’s voice for my own.

He Is Our VINE

And I have noticed the result of shutting out His loving nudges for my comfort/ease. Choosing me over God makes me more vulnerable to Satan’s attacks, when Satan exploits my weaknesses.

I am more easily triggered by my past traumas. I am more prone to being short-tempered or easily offended. I get hurt more easily because I am feeling more insecure. I fill up with anxiety & feel the tempting pulls of depression nipping at my heels. Instead of peace, I feel uprooted & drifting, full of uncertainty.

These are the results of me trying to do life MY way & without God’s help. He is my Counselor & Friend. He is my Healer, my Father, my Redeemer. He alone has perfect wisdom & Truth.

And when I reject Him, even little by little in small decisions, I am literally removing myself as a branch from my life-nourishing, life-giving Vine.

He feeds my soul. He gives me life.

That’s why He DEMANDS my obedience… because without living His way & His Truth, I am pulling away from my true source of LIFE. I am hurting myself.

Don’t Fluff Up Sin–Call It Out & Turn from It!

Oh how it must pain Him to see me stubbornly pull away when all He wants to do is fill where I lack, lift me up, & love me with His Truth.

I have a rebellious & stubborn heart, prone to wander, prone to choose me over God’s ways a million times until I have exhausted myself & cry out to God for help. That’s me. & I’m not proud of it.

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, & stubbornness is as iniquity & idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected thee from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:23) (Ouch.)

And when I started the “Seeking Him” study by Nancy Leigh DeMoss & Tim Grissom, where it has you catalog all your “dirty laundry” mistakes & hard-heartedness, I felt attacked, wanting to donate the book & just move on with my life. I felt despair that although I answered all of the questions, I felt the reared-up tension of not wanting to change, of wanting MY way. I didn’t feel shame or remorse, I felt angry & protective over it.

Even KNOWING it was for my GOOD!

Break Up That Fallow Ground!

And then I read the last page of today’s work page, finishing up Week 1 of the study, & it directed me to Hosea 10:12-13:

“Sow for yourselves righteousness;

Reap in mercy;

Break up your fallow ground,

For it is time to seek the Lord,

Till He comes & rains righteousness on you.

You have plowed wickedness;

You have reaped iniquity.

You have eaten the fruit of lies,

Because you trusted in your own way….” (emphasis mine)

Wow, if this doesn’t just get right to the point, huh? I DID. I HAVE been trusting my own way… & I AM seeing negative consequences as a result!

Let’s Break It Down

And today’s lesson then led me through this list, encouraging me to turn from that “trusting my own way” to GOD’S WAY (summary):

1-Return to righteousness & obey God

2-Accept God’s mercy & forgive others

3-Allow God to plow up your hardened heart

4-Grieve over your sins

5-Ponder the consequences of disobedience you’re experiencing

6-Accept responsibility for those consequences

7-Seek God & His kingdom as priority

So today, I start by admitting to you & God where my heart has been rebellious, taking responsibility for my wrong actions & for the consequences of quick frustration, anxiousness, & hard-heartedness I am experiencing.

Today, I want to change. I want God to revive my heart & bring me back to my love for Him as my “First Love.”

I Want HIM–Jesus Christ as #1

I want HIM to guide my steps, even if that means skipping tv, videos, or game-playing when He prods my heart to do so even if for a reason unbeknownst to me.

I want HIM to guide my steps, even if that means not caving at the first sign of a terrible food decision.

I want HIM to guide my steps, even if that means feeling uncomfortable speaking Truth & Hope into a situation where I would usually keep quiet because I want to be liked.

I need this fallow ground of my HARD HEART to be broken up & I need to RETURN to my First Love.

It’s Time to Desire Revival

God gave everything for me, for us. He made me knowing He would also have to save me. He is so faithful & patient & kind while I am prone to wander & ignore Him.

It’s time for revival.

Are you with me? —Even on our “good days”, there always seems to be that little something we want to hold back from God… what is that in your life?

Pray about it & ask for God to show you… Ask for revival in your heart. Ask Him to revive & renew a steadfast spirit within you (Psalm 51:10), one that seeks His kingdom first & acknowledges Him in ALL things (Matthew 6:33).

To love the LORD you God with all of your heart & all of your mind & all of your soul & all of your strength (Mark 12:30-31), having no other “gods” before Him (Exodus 20:3).

HE is the way, the Truth, & the Life (John 14:6). He is our True VINE (John 15:5).

He is a life-giver, Sustainer, Healer, Friend, Awesome God, Almighty in Power & Wisdom & Strength. He is the One true King. He is GOD.

Thank You JESUS, for saving me! (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8; John 3:16)

Shine Hope by letting God break up your fallow ground (packed down, hardened heart) & asking Him to renew a fresh love for Him as your highest priority & love in life.

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 THREE 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, 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!!

Luminous Studs (North Asia)

These 14k gold-plated mask-friendly studs are mesmerizing, as they sparkle in the light, creating iridescent shades that change with your every move.

Every purchase helps support a sex trafficking survivor in North Asia with safe housing, health care, trauma counseling, job skills training, & dignified income. In North Asia, poverty encourages sexual exploitation of women in brothels. These women want to provide for their families but have few options. Your purchase helps provide sex trafficking survivors with holistic care, dignified income, & hope.

Purchase these earrings & empower a woman in North 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!

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!

A Dangerous Misunderstanding

It is common to hear the phrase “we need to have more faith.” It is even common to tell ourselves we need to “have more faith,” but while this phrase is well-meaning, it is often misleading.

This call to “have more faith” is misleading because it can lead us to believe the exact opposite of what God tells us….

Jesus even told His disciples that they don’t need more faith, when they asked Him to help them have more faith. (Luke 17:5-6)

I understand where this idea to “have more faith” came from, because we are told to “just have faith” & so that often translates into, “well then, I need to have MORE faith, then!”

You may be thinking, “okay, but is it really a “dangerous” misunderstanding?” Most certainly yes!

God made a point to include this quick exchange between Jesus & His disciples because He knew we are prone to place the burden on ourselves instead of on Him… That Satan would exploit situations where we don’t get what we pray for, convincing us that it’s all our fault & if we just had more faith THEN we would get what we want from God….

It’s no bueno (no good). The rally cry for “more faith” really teaches us to have more faith in OURSELVES, if you think about it.

Listen to the Bible

The Bible expresses to us that we actually DON’T need more faith, as Jesus said in Luke 17… but that what we need is faith more often… & even a corrected perspective of God, based on God’s Word–the Bible.

I grew up believing the lie to “have more faith,” believing that everything relied upon me believing in God hard enough… placing the burden on my own shoulders.

And while God does tell us repeatedly to submit to Him & His way… & to place our hope & trust in Him, which is also hard sometimes, God never tells us that His work depends on US believing “enough,” because it doesn’t.

“So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ & it will move; & nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)

Jesus says this because He knows the Truth that God’s working is not reliant on the power of our faith, but on HIS POWER.

So much of the Bible is spent highlighting all the many scenarios in which we should stop trusting in our plan, our wisdom, our way, our efforts… & instead, LEARN to trust GOD & do what GOD says.

God Does What He Says He Will. Period.

You see, our level of faith or the amount of faith we have does not add to or take away from God’s power. His action or inaction is not hinging on this “more faith.”

He works according to His promises. Period. He does what He says He will. Period. And He will do so every single time. Period.

In reading “Sit, Walk, Stand” by Watchman Nee (short book, but Powerful Insight–highly recommend), the author even gives us this hint in saying that because God is faithful to His promises 100% of the time, our petitions should contain less pleading & more praising, knowing that we do not have to convince God to do what He says He will do.

So, when we use this phrase of “we need to have more faith,” we need to also understand this to mean that we do not need more faith, but rather, we need to have faith more often.

Don’t Doubt God… & Pray/Ask According to His Promises

My prayers growing up expressed my misunderstanding of this phrase because I constantly felt like “God must not have answered my way because I am not believing hard enough in Him.”

Well, the Bible tells us that we do not get what we ask because we ask amiss (James 4:3), which means that if we are asking for something that is not in God’s perfect wisdom & will, to use selfishly or self-centeredly, then we won’t get it.

And PRAISE God for that! Because when we ask “amiss” it is because we are thinking & planning & solving in just our limited perspective, knowledge, & understanding, whereas God sees, knows, & understands literally EVERYTHING past, present, AND future. So, PRAISE God that He does not give us what we ask when we “ask amiss.”

God knows the perfect answer to everything, even if it’s not how we’ve decided is best.

We are also instructed to pray without doubting (James 1:6), meaning that if we know God promised something & so we ask Him to carry it out in a certain situation accordingly, doubting is basically asserting the idea that God may not be faithful, which is offensive & dishonoring at best. So, when you ask, ask in faith, trusting God to keep His Word.

Not More Faith, But Faith More Often

But, you might be wondering, how can we insure that we don’t “ask amiss” & how do we avoid doubting God will answer us a certain way?

The simple answer? We need to study God’s Word, memorize it, & get to know it. We need to spend time with God & His Truth–the Bible.

We need to get to know the Bible & His promises to then know how to ask rightly & with CONFIDENCE, without doubting, to ask God of things we know He will carry out. And as our fruit, we can begin to have faith MORE OFTEN.

Shine HOPE by having faith more often.

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 THREE 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, 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!!

Andean Drop Earrings (Peru)

Handcrafted by our newest Artisan partners in Peru, these unique statement earrings are showstoppers with 24k gold-plated oval studs & framed teardrop chrysocolla stones. Hammered metal & natural variations of swirling green chrysocolla add “Old World” charm to these ethically made earrings. (Designed to pair with our Andean Ring.)

Every purchase provides safe jobs with fair wages in areas of extreme poverty in Peru.

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!

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!

I Am a Weak Human

I’m going to be honest with you… I just had pizza bread & soda for lunch & I am not proud of it.

Typically, Jamie & I reserve pizza & other greasy/fatty meals for date-night-in or something special, but I had a lunch craving & I caved with very little resistance (VERY little).

And the other day, I decided not to do my morning walk because it was drizzly out, determining to go later when the rain slowed down… but I didn’t… because I didn’t want to change out of comfy clothes to go out for physical exertion when the couch had already claimed me as a friend.

And last week? I didn’t want to do my blog… like AT ALL. Oh, if you could have seen how hard I resisted doing it.

I didn’t want to pray about any of these things, either, because I didn’t want to do other than what I wanted… & even though I felt that gentle, nudging reminder from God, I purposely ignored Him, too.

I wanted the pizza. I wanted my couch & pajama combo. I wanted to play video games instead of working. I wanted what I wanted.

God Knew Better & I Ignored Him–On Purpose

These things are not inherently wrong. It’s okay to have pizza sometimes, as long as you balance it with a nutritious menu & don’t binge. It’s okay to relax & it’s okay to take a break for games sometimes, even—as long as it doesn’t form a pattern of laziness, over-indulgence, & neglect.

But, the problem was that I knew I needed a nutritious meal because my body was already mad about a poor dinner choice last night. I knew that my body craved getting out for sunshine, fresh air, & exertion & that I denied it for the easy way out. And I knew the reward that comes from spending time committed to this blog, committed to showing up for hope, for you… & it far outweighed the reward of hours with a controller in hand, staring at my tv.

The problem with my choices was that I knew God was whispering over my heart to not make those choices this time, but that I didn’t care… I wanted my way… the cop out. I didn’t listed to or trust or obey God’s loving guidance.

I wanted the instant gratification.

The Patience of God

It had been a long time since I resisted working on my blog. God has grown my heart over these past few years so that it usually seems less like work & more like a joy & a privilege & an honor.

But not last week. Last week felt like I had boxing gloves on & was ready to duke it out with myself to keep from having to do one ounce of work when I wanted to do anything BUT.

God is so patient with me.

I am not running this blog because I have it all together & have the self-discipline to always choose rightly. I make mistakes. I choose the selfish choice sometimes too often (& reap the consequences).

I Am a Weak Human

I am also NOT using that truth of me being a weak human as an excuse.

God has been teaching me to own up & call it [disrespecting, dishonoring, ignoring, etc. God] for what it is.

Instead of, “oh, I am being such a BRAT, aren’t I, God?” (sounding cute & nonchalant about it) it has become instead, “God, forgive me for my selfish behavior where I would rather choose my way than trust Yours. You are God & I am not. Please forgive me for being disrespectful & dishonoring to You.”

I need to OWN up to my wrong actions born from my sinful heart.

Is there anything with which you do that? … Where you just sort of sugar-coat your bad choices like they aren’t really that bad… compared to _________________?

Making light of God’s grace & mercy? His forgiveness?

This is something I do ALL the time. (Regrettably.)

It’s so easy to clearly see where others might be compromising or choosing themselves over God—either their opinion over His Truth, or doing their way vs. His way…. But it is MUCH harder to own up to my own shortcomings & see them for what they are-a sinful, me-centered attitude.

YES!… But First…

In church, on Sunday, our pastor talked about Luke 9, including verses 59 & 60, “He [Jesus] said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go & bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go & proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Jesus’ response may seem harsh, until you think about the bigger picture… that you can’t do anything for someone already gone, but you CAN offer a very real hope to people still around to hear & receive it.

And it hit me… I do this to God ALL the time.

“Oh yeah, God! Of COURSE I want to follow You, but I need to take care of this.”

As if God doesn’t ALREADY know & isn’t sufficient & can’t handle it if I leave whatever it is to do what HE asked me to do.

Like, “Michelle, if GOD ALMIGHTY (Who sees, knows, & understands literally EVERYTHING) asks you to do something, you can GUARANTEE that:

A) He already knows what’s on YOUR schedule,

B) HE can handle what’s on your schedule (or knows it won’t end up needing to be handled at all this time), &

C) asked you to do it NOW because He has a reason for it needing to be done right now, in lieu of your proposed plans.”

Stop & Pray

I like to treat God like He has good ideas, but like I need to fit them in amongst my own responsibilities &/or plans, where as God KNOWS what needs to be done & can handle it MUCH better than I can, so if He says, “GO” then He already has a plan & can take care of it… & He just wants me to GO & do what He asked in the moment.

I need to stop running the show my way, “with His help,” & start living HIS plan, with His help.

I need to learn how to stop [assuming I know all the details] & pray [ask all-knowing God for His say in the matter].

The Right Response

I needed to stop & pray before lunch today, submitting to what He was telling me my body needed right then, letting Him tell me how to care for it & allowing Him to help me carry it out. I could have avoided the tummy ache & headache & sluggish side effects of poor eating choices.

“God, please forgive me for being gluttonous… for choosing cravings over what was good for my body. Forgive me for choosing instant gratification vs. long-term health in caring for the body You made for me. Please forgive me for purposely ignoring You when You were just looking out for me. Now I have the tummy ache & headache consequences when I could have trusted You to show me a healthy AND yummy alternative that would have energized me. I’m sorry for disrespecting You. Help me stop to trust You next time. Amen.”

I needed to stop & pray when God reminded me about my plan to go out for a walk “later” because my heart was really craving sunshine & fresh air.

“God, please forgive me for shoving Your gentle reminder away. You knew it would have refreshed me. You knew it would uplift me. I chose my way & felt defeated by the end of the day for never overcoming my lazy cravings & instead exchanging my walk for ease. Please forgive me for shutting You out & disrespecting You when You were trying to help & uplift me. Help me stop to trust You next time. Amen.”

I eventually did stop & pray last Monday, when I wrestled against my strong, stubborn resistance to productivity.

“God, I do NOT want to work today! I don’t want to! Please! Help me! Remind me that temporary instant gratification is a LIE. Don’t let me quit. Don’t let me give in. Help me. Refresh me. Give me a will to take time to share Your hope & testimony of You. There is so much more value in this blog—LASTING value—than extra time spent on my video games. PLEASE help me. In Jesus’ powerful, mighty name, AMEN.”

Even When It’s Hard

Sometimes it’s not a willing, submissive prayer, trusting God to lead.

Sometimes it’s a full-on FIGHT against my own strong will.

Sometimes it’s a slump-to-the-ground-so-I-don’t-keep-choosing-my-way-&-then-BEGGING-God-to-help-me sort of situation, frustration, angst & stubborn rebellion coursing through me like a mad, raging storm.

And God is SO patient with me. So gentle. So kind.

He knows my heart. I can’t hide it behind a seemingly obedient & righteous smile. He knows.

He sees me.

And yet, He loves me. He grows me. He waits for me. He guides me. He LOVES me.

I don’t do this blog because I have it all together. Quite the opposite!

I do it because despite all of my MANY flaws & weaknesses & bouts of stubborn rebellion, I am loved by a God much bigger than me & far greater!

He is my Rescuer, Healer of scars from trauma, Savior, Guide, Comforter, Counselor, Father, Friend, Almighty God, Creator.

I have nothing to offer Him, but that is okay because He is enough for us both.

Where It All Began

I started with a small, timid prayer years ago: “God, I WANT to serve You, but I don’t know HOW. Show me what purposes You have planned for my life. Show me Your plan. I am tempted not to ask because I am afraid You will give me more than I can handle right now, but then I remember that You know EVERYTHING. You know what I can handle. You know how YOU made me. You know my responsibilities. You are patient & gentle. You can help every step, too. So, show me Your will more & more & help me know HOW to live it. I want Your way… Your plan. Help me see it. Amen.”

That’s where I started. I was SO scared that He would overwhelm me with too much… like Moses probably felt (Exodus 3). But God is SO patient & gentle & kind… AND we can ask Him for His help every step of it!

He knows you. He made you. ASK Him.

Shine Hope by determining to STOP & PRAY, not assuming your solution must happen, but trusting He sees & knows even more/better than You do. You can trust 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 THREE 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, 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 (only middle of 3 necklaces shown)

On-trend set of 3 layered necklaces that can be worn together or separately, featuring a labradorite stone, hammered discs, & a blue topaz crystal drop.

In India, poverty often leads to exploitation of vulnerable women in sweatshops. Every purchase provides these Artisans with fair wages, access to healthcare, education for their children, & care for elderly family members.

Purchase this set & empower an Artisan 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!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!

What I’ve Been Learning about Prayer

In church recently, the pastor has been covering the “Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew 6 & I feel like I have been learning so much I had never really considered.

When asked by His disciples how they should pray, Jesus lays out a model prayer for them (& us) in Matthew 6:9-13.

“In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom & the power & the glory forever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13) (emphasis mine)

Your Kingdom Come

One of the things this pastor’s sermons has taught me is highlighted in verse 10 that says, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

The pastor pointed out the two-sided meaning to this little phrase, “Your kingdom come,” meaning both an immediate understanding of living under God’s kingship & an eternal, ultimate authority that God has & will have.

The Power of a King

This aforementioned sermon pointed out to me the importance of understanding how kingship works.

Throughout history, a kingship (vs. a presidential position), means ultimate authority. He could have someone killed on a whim or take away land or do basically whatever he decided he wanted, without any sort of committee, vote, or approval of anyone else.

And again, throughout history, there have been benevolent kings who have obeyed God’s commands & have looked out for the good of their kingdom… & there have been malevolent kings who live according to their own whims, regardless of who they have to hurt along the way.

God’s Kingship

Well, in considering God as a king, He is the ultimate benevolent king, Who is perfectly good, moral, just, & holy.

But His kingdom is FOREVER because He cannot & will not die to leave His kingdom to the next ruler. He has perfect, ultimate, eternal control & power… & not just over a finite area, but over ALL.

God always operates as He says He will in His written Word—the Bible. He is faithful even when we are not (2 Timothy 2:13), but there are also consequences to dishonoring & disobeying His commands to run your own kingdom your way (Romans 6:23).

He doesn’t answer to anyone else.

Am I the Queen of Me?

So, if I lived in a kingdom, with a king (good or bad) & understood his rule was absolute, how would that affect the way I live out my life?

And if I understand that God has this same ultimate Kingship authority, power, & control… except on a much grander, infinite scale… how would that affect the way I live out my life?

Am I queen of my own life? Am I the Queen of me? Do I act like I am? Do I have the final say-so? Do I make my own decrees or judgements? Do I rule me?

Or do I understand that this is GOD’S kingdom… NOT mine…?

God Is My KING

The pastor did such a wonderful job at expounding the concept found in this little short verse that I now realize more clearly that I am a part of a bigger, greater kingdom & regardless of who the current president or person of power may be, God is my ultimate authority as my KING.

And even if earthly leaders don’t command me to follow God’s laws, I am still under the authority of God’s eternal reign. I am still a citizen of HIS kingdom. And I will still be held accountable to God for the decisions I make that disregard or disobey His laws.

God is my KING.

Fearing God Is the Beginning of Wisdom

We talked a few weeks ago about fearing God as the beginning of wisdom (Check out that post, here) & this idea of God’s Kingship nicely rounds out those ideas with an understanding that, as Christians, we are a part of God’s kingdom… not just the eventual & ultimate reign of God, but currently, right now, on a personal, daily level… an understanding that HE is in charge… NOT me.

The question we need to ask ourselves on a daily, moment-by-moment basis is, “Do I serve God as King over all, or do I expect Him to serve me?”

He Is Good, SO GOOD

But, dear one, when we serve Him & submit to Him, we can take rest & peace in knowing He is perfect, without fault, holy, just, forgiving, patient, loving, kind, & Good.

He even made a payment possible to satisfy His wrath & need for justice by sending Jesus Who willingly took our punishment for our wrongs upon Himself, died for us, & rose again as victorious over both our sins AND death. God is GOOD! Amen!! (John 3:16-17)

He is the ultimate benevolent King, seeking the very absolute best for the people of His kingdom.

Perfectly Designed for Our Good

For those of us who have humbly accepted the Gift that Jesus offers to every one of us in paying our debts, we can rest in His Goodness & benevolence & trust Him through obedience, knowing His every command is perfectly designed to bring us Good… & that when it doesn’t seem so, it’s because Satan has planted his claws of trauma & deception… & in that case, God can heal… God can redeem… God can restore… God can renew.

Shine HOPE by determining to let GOD be KING… by stepping down as “Queen of Me”… & letting “[His] kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

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 almost THREE 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” 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!!

Zoya Earrings (India)

Zoya means “shining, life” in Hindi. These stylishly stunning gold-toned earrings are handcrafted in India, featuring genuine freshwater pearls on a delicate linked-chain design. Every purchase provides fair-trade jobs in areas of extreme poverty 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!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

“By the grace God has given me, I [Paul] laid a foundation as a wise builder, & someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, & the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Corinthians 3:10-15) (emphasis mine)

Am I Living Like 1 Corinthians 3 Is True?

It is frustrating for me looking at a large majority of American Christianity.

… Until I realize I am a part of it.

There is a little phrase in a verse that I never really understood & so just breezed by in the past, until recently.

“… the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Corinthians 3:15) (emphasis mine)

How Often?

How many of us just live our lives, letting whole days or weeks go by without asking for insight from God into God’s plans?

Filling the time with jobs, hobbies, errands, chores, responsibilities, busy auto-pilot living….

And how often do we recognize that God has good works that HE has planned in advance for us to do? (Ephesians 2:10) … That He has an agenda that is not just “get through this day, get through this week, get through this year, the end.”

God Has Even Better Plans

Have you ever heard of the term, “Divine Appointment”?

The idea behind this is that God sees every heart & every need & hears every cry & sees every tear.

He also has a planned way to serve those needs & bless those hearts.

And oftentimes, we get to be a part of it, if we are willing to be a vessel of HOPE for Him.

Are you willing to trust HIS plan over your own?

What Are We Modeling? What Beliefs Do Our Choices Reflect?

And how often do we feel we “know enough” from church or maybe a Bible Study we go to, that we don’t really take time to bother with personal reading, studying, or praying? Because we “just don’t have the time”?

What are we modeling for children? For other believers? For those who are still lost?

In whom do our actions say we have our faith? Others? God? Ourselves?

Who?

Getting Honest with Yourself

Reflecting on your current priorities, do you think your lifestyle will be described as being ”a good & faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23) trusting God’s lead?

Or… “saved as if by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:15) aka barely making it by the skin of your teeth, doing the bare minimum to live for God?

I want my life to represent a life of joy & faith, trusting & obeying God, letting Him use my life to bless those around me, letting Him have the lead of my life. I want His abundance!

Redeeming the Time, for the Days Are Evil

I want to be a part of the plans HE has for my life…

… a life as SALT & LIGHT in this world.

… redeeming the time because evil will keep on happening (Ephesians 5:14-16) even if I don’t.

… letting God’s goodness shine hope into it!

What Will Our Legacy Say?

What do you want your legacy to say about you? About God? About JESUS?

And if, like much of my routine, you have everything out of order or feel you just “don’t have the time for anything else,” remember that for that reason, the verse says to REDEEM your time. Give all of your schedule to God & say, “God, I know this is all out of whack, but I am too busy & I don’t know what needs to go or how it needs to shift or how to create the energy I will need to do what honors You….

… But You are God. And You can help me know what to cut or move & how to do it. You can give me more energy to do what honors You….

… Your capacity & power, dear God, far exceeds my own. So, take my time. Redeem it for a better way. AMEN.”

Saved As If by Fire?

I have had to pray something similar throughout the years for my scheduling in general, but I need to learn to pray this way every moment… to be willing to let Him take the reins of my life moment-by-moment.

Because I want to honor Him.

I want to be His vessel of Hope.

I don’t want to just live & then die… I want to LIVE FOR HIM, through Him.

I want my life to point to Him & give Him glory.

I want to add His light more into this evil-filled world.

I want to be His light, edifying, building up, & making this life fuller & richer, by our Victor’s design.

I want to make the most of the days I have, no matter how many or how few. My life is a vapor, here today & gone tomorrow.

Shine HOPE by living as an intentional legacy of HIS GRACE & LOVE & HOPE in this world.

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 almost THREE 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” 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!!

Truth Earrings

These incredibly light earrings are made with genuine local capiz shell.

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 these earrings & 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!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!

Not Always Easy

I will be honest with you: staying faithful to God is not always an easy feat for me. I am stubborn & selfish & often automatically think I have things figured out already my way.

And when I am distracted by something “shiny” or feel the least bit tired, the willingness to be faithful in my submission to God drops quite a bit.

I often forget to pray for help & instead either quit or try my own way until I wear myself down & want to quit because I like instant gratification.

… Let’s just say that God has had to show me a lot of grace & exercise much patience with me.

An Opening for Sin

Whenever I have a need, I immediately want to see it fixed to my satisfaction—emphasis on immediately.

It is pretty common for me to face temptation or face some sort of hardship, pray for help, not see it made easy for me to resist (by removing it altogether, because I don’t want to have to choose to obey when temptation is calling me), & then blame God when I give in.

Or, I go to God for help but then go to my own Plan B or Plan C pretty quickly, not trusting God enough to wait on Him & rest in Him.

This is also why sin is such a temptation for me, because Satan always seems to package it as the shiny quick fix to all of my problems.

Make Sure to Read the Fine Print

But there is always fine print to sin. That’s why God commands us to avoid it, because while it seems justifiable & safe & the perfect answer… it always comes back to bite you… it always has consequences you’re not always aware of when you dive into those sins.

So, being aware of this fact, I know even more how important it is to stay faithful & submit to God’s commands (aka God’s way).

And, you would think this would be motivation enough to stick to God’s ways, but that instant gratification addiction is strong with me. I want it to be made easy for me to follow & obey God.

I Want It Easy

It takes a lot for me to go from knowing what I need to do, seeing an obstacle that makes it less than appealing to follow through, to stopping to pray for help from God versus quitting & running the opposite direction toward something easier or more appealing.

I get stuck in the lazy &/or anxiety trap way too often.

I get paralyzed with overwhelm or with a pull toward an easier-seeming way & head straight there.

And I often turn to the television, or a tablet, or something else where I can engulf my mind into something that doesn’t cause me anxiety, numbing everything else out because it just seems easier… versus asking God to help me push through it—trusting Him for victory.

Our Good God Is a God of VICTORY

But, what I need to learn to do is to realize that no matter how strong the pull to something else may seem & no matter how appealing that instant gratification promises (lies) to be… I need to stop giving in… I need to fall to my knees if need be. And I need to cry out to God for help.

And so, this has been something I have been trying to intentionally be aware of lately, asking God to help me see when I am coveting instant gratification over trusting in Him—because God is Good & God is a God of VICTORY.

My Prayers Against Giving In

I have been praying something like this, “God, please help me! I don’t know how to handle this or how to follow through on this, so I just want to run toward whatever feels easier & more instantly gratifying. And I know You have an answer & You always have a plan & I can always trust You in everything, but I often fold & turn to whatever seems quicker, shinier, or easier. Please help me to stop compromising at every other turn. Help me lean into You more. Help me to be aware of the times I am seeking ease more than a peace in You. Help me know when I am compromising for something less than what You have to offer me out of Your lavishing love for me. I want to honor You. You deserve my full honor & respect. You are faithful even when I am not. Thank You for continuing with me, for giving me grace, for showing me patience…. Thank You for never giving up on me. You are so Good… all the time. I love You because You loved me first. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.”

Staying Faithful-Without Instant Gratification

So, if you’re with me on this… struggling to stay faithful when instant gratification seems to sparkle & shine for your time & attention, determine to stop & ask God for help trusting Him in everything big & small.

Shine hope by turning to God every time it’s hard to stay faithful to His way & by asking for His help in saying, “NO” to those shiny instant gratification opportunities. Staying faithful-without instant gratification-can seem impossibly hard sometimes, but with God, nothing is impossible.

“Jesus looked at them & said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”(Matthew 19:26)

He’s always worth it, 100%.

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 almost THREE 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” 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!!

Silver Medallion Necklace

This textured silver-tone chain from India can be worn separately or layered with other necklaces from our One World Collection. The uniquely textured pendant adds the perfect artistic touch. Three length options allow you to choose your comfort & style. Every purchase provides fair-trade jobs in areas of extreme poverty in India.

In India, poverty often leads to exploitation of vulnerable Artisans in sweatshops. Every purchase provides these Artisans with fair wages, access to healthcare, education for their children, & care for elderly family members.

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!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!

Just One Imperfect Person to Another

If you read my blog & think to yourself, “Man, this girl has it all together with her weekly blog posts & she is way more faithful & strong in her faith than I am…” well, let me stop you right there to give you an honesty check—everything I post about is something I have struggled through (or am still struggling through) myself.

I don’t come to you as someone who has figured it all out.

I don’t come to you as someone who is always sure & strong in her faith, always making the right choices.

I come to you as a fellow woman on a journey to trust God with more of her life as she fails, forgets, drops the ball, messes up, etc., leaning into the Holy Spirit’s work in her life.

The Hard-Headed Truth

To be honest with you, I am one of the most stubborn, hard-headed skeptics I know. It’s a miracle, truly, that God has grown me to where I am today.

Then, there’s the fact that even when I DO learn… God reminds me & I forget & He has to remind me again. I am hardheaded that way… or maybe prideful in always wanting to try my way first.

I am by no means perfect & I have a loooong way to go, but I just keep trying again… failing forward, letting the Holy Spirit work in me as I lean into Him.

And the key, I have learned (from my many failures & prideful mistakes) is to KEEP coming to HIM for help in the learning to trust & obey Him… even & ESPECIALLY after you mess it all up first. (That, I have learned from my own personal failures… Satan likes to use our mistakes & failures to create a rift between us & God, but God says, “Yep, Jesus paid for that, too. Come back to Me, My child.”)

Let’s Do This Together!

It’s a PROCESS & a JOURNEY we are ALL going through.

That’s where my confidence comes from—not in thinking I am better than anyone else, but in realizing that we are all broken & in need of God’s help & that any good I accomplish is because of the abilities, gifts, opportunities, strength, wisdom, etc. that HE has given me.

I NEED Him.

And so do you.

Hello, We Meet Again…

I am no stranger to this inner battle against temptation, just as much as I know you are no stranger to it either–& we all have our personal weak spots that Satan knows how to exploit. This battle is one we are all familiar with & is one we will continue to fight throughout our life, as Satan’s key personal mission is to pace the earth, seeking whom he may devour, seeking to kill, steal, & destroy. (1 Peter 5:8; John 10:10)

It is very true that the more we spend time talking to God about every detail of our lives, asking for wisdom or strength or comfort or counsel or any of the promises God offers us, that we are much less likely to be troubled with temptation, but none of us are immune to it.

It is also true that when we follow the instructions & guidelines laid out for us in Ephesians & summarized at the end of Ephesians, with the armor OF God, that we will also be much less vulnerable to these attacks… but the attacks will still come. (Ephesians 6:10-20)

Satan Knows Where to Hit Us

Satan can’t MAKE us sin, but he will & does definitely cultivate scenarios where we are much more prone to take our eyes off of God & choose sin instead.

Whether it be that phone or laptop that no one else has access to… making it easy to search, read &/or see what I know I shouldn’t (Fine Print: it leads to joyless emptiness & further destruction)… or even whether it be watching that show on tv that has content that far too often ignites my triggers for that temptation. (Matthew 5:28-this is addressed to men, but also applies to women lusting after men!)

Whether it’s the temptation to eat one more slice of cake or snack a little (or a lot) more than my body says it needs because I am stressed &/or bored. Or to eat foods consistently too full of fat, sugar, & preservatives, things that are quick & “more fun to eat” & avoiding nutritious, beneficial foods that my body really needs. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Whether it’s the temptation to talk about someone else, thinking I’m being a friendly neighbor to warn someone about that someone because they said something they shouldn’t have, unknowingly slandering them in the process, versus taking that concern to God & watching what words come out of my mouth, that they may only be edifying, for the building up of others, as God instructs. (James 4:11; Ephesians 4:29)

Oh, & There’s More…

Whether it’s harboring bitterness because someone wronged me or hurt me, versus praying for them as God instructs us to do… & then leaning into God for comfort & healing, while asking His help to let it go & offer grace, trusting God with the justice & with that person’s heart… Letting HIM be their righteous Judge, not me. (Hebrews 12:15; Colossians 3:13)

Whether it’s nursing personal wounds or giving way to my anxiety, letting Satan stir that pot of discontentment & trauma so that I can stay the victim rather than accept my part of responsibility & turn to God for healing & growth, trusting that I don’t need to manipulate Him with a sob story to gain His love & care & help & gentle attention. (Psalm 73:24; Psalm 55:22; 1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:6)

Whether it’s not praying &/or not reading my Bible consistently because I’m too… tired, too distracted, have a headache, am too busy, too bored with it, too restless, or don’t feel I understand what I’m reading enough anyway… Rather than trusting that God is bigger than me & can help in ALL of these areas. (Philippians 4:6; Proverbs 3:5-6; Ephesians 3:20-21)

These are all things I have wrestled & sometimes still wrestle with… I am surely a work in progress… & in all of these areas, I have prayed.

But, I have not always accepted God’s help when He offered it… because I chose my way instead.

An Example I Want to Emulate

I have basically been the opposite of Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego, as told about in Daniel 3.

You see, back in their day, a statue was erected in their king’s honor & a decree was issued that everyone in the kingdom bow down & worship that statue.

Well, in God’s Word, the Bible, God commanded that we worship no one but Him, knowing full well that worshipping the creatED in place of the CreatOR was unwise & dishonoring to the only One who deserves that worship—LORD Almighty.

So, when everyone was told, “Now is the time, all you people! Bow down & worship!” they didn’t.

They stood tall, proclaiming with their inaction that they really believed only One to be worthy of that worship.

Putting on the PRESSURE to Sin

And when the guards took notice, these three men still refused to bow &/or worship anyone but God alone.

So, the guards collected them & they were taken to the king himself, having their disobedience announced before his presence. And they still didn’t bow.

They were EVEN offered a chance to bow in private, only in front of the king, so that they could “technically obey the decree, without ruining their reputation before all those people.” And they still didn’t bow.

THEN, they were threatened with being thrown to their deaths in a fiery furnace SO HOT that it sometimes killed those who would go to throw them into it. And they still didn’t bow!

Their response? “Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, & he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18) (Emphasis mine.)

Their response was to honor God & trust & obey God NO MATTER WHAT… EVEN if it was NOT made easy for them!

“Technically Obeying” Is Still Disobeying

You see, I am not like that. I would have done a short bow to “technically not disobey God while technically still obeying the king.” I would have looked for a loophole to do both versus standing for obedience & honor to God alone.

I would have bowed in front of the king, asking him to just not tell anyone & letting him know I didn’t agree with it because only God should be worshipped, but still doing it in private to spare my life.

I would have been afraid of the consequences of obedience.

I would have hesitated.

I would have given in… I would have looked for a loophole… & I do.

I don’t have a very strong, “And if not” attitude. I want it made easy for me.

It’s Just NOT Worth It!

Those three men understood. They knew it wasn’t worth it. They knew that the king would believe in his heart that he was bigger than the true God because the men listened to him over GOD.

They knew it wasn’t worth defaming God. They knew the worst is that they would die & go to Heaven.

They knew that God could save them from death in that fiery furnace in exchange for their obedience (which He DID!!-Daniel 3:24-27) but that IF NOT, they were still determined to obey & honor God NO MATTER the cost.

And because they trusted & obeyed God above the king AND their own fear of death, the king realized the Truth-that GOD ALMIGHTY IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS & ONLY HE IS WORTHY OF WORSHIP! (Daniel 3:28-30)

Our War with Temptations

How often have I prayed for God’s help in overcoming the temptation to just cave in any of those scenarios I confessed to struggle against… knowing full well that although I prayed fervently, I had already determined in my heart that I was going to do it anyway… that I was going to bow.

Because I wanted it more than I wanted to honor & obey God.

Because I wanted it more than I wanted to risk not being happy, trusting in it more than in God.

_______________… & THEN I’ll Obey!

Because I wasn’t (& am often not) willing to NOT bow UNLESS it’s made easy to resist.

Take away that fiery furnace & then I’ll obey!

Take away the decree completely & then I’ll obey!

Make the king change his mind & THEN I’ll obey!

Make it easy for me to obey & then I’ll obey.

God’s Way or the Highway!

But I don’t want to live that way anymore. I have already seen the victory that comes in saying “God’s way or the highway!” when I was willing to say to God: “Okay, God, even if I perceive that I may never be satisfied-if I don’t escape with fantasies-because of my assault trauma… you know what, I would rather lose that then to keep dishonoring You by doing it my way, because you know what… my way is NOT WORKING. My way seems appealing but always has a catch. My way always comes with damaging fine print that I too often ignore or pretend isn’t there. And if You MADE sex to BE ENJOYED between a HUSBAND & his WIFE, then YOU are the ONLY authority on how it works & how to find the satisfaction I have been seeking to fulfill my way. So, NO MORE. I want Your way & ONLY Your way from now on!! AMEN.”

Be Willing to Say, “But If Not… I Will Still Obey!”

And that’s how I need to be in EVERY area of my life… in EVERY one of those scenarios I listed at the beginning of this.

That “& IF NOT”… if it’s still boring… if I still want to stir that pot of discontentment… if I’m worried I will end up discontent or unhappy… if I am too busy… if there are too many distractions… if NONE of the obstacles are removed, that I WILL STILL WALK FORWARD IN OBEDIENCE, TRUSTING THAT GOD CAN HELP ME, but that IF NOT, it is ALWAYS worth doing it HIS WAY.

Our war with temptations ends when we determine that God has the final say, God knows best, & only God’s way can bring the satisfaction we so desperately try to cling to our way…

… When we say, “Temptations, I WILL NOT BOW… because I KNOW MY GOD CAN SAVE/HELP ME… but IF NOT… I still will NOT bow to you!”

Suit Up in GOD’s Armor-Ephesians 6

Shine HOPE by suiting up with truth to counter the lies we’re fed & believe… by determining to do it God’s way even when it seems impossible… to remember God’s got you in the palm of His hand… by being wrapped up in God’s peace that always seems too good to be true, by remembering Who has ultimate authority & power, & by knowing God’s Word as a sword against any attack Satan may try against you.

Because when we suit up in GOD’S armor, that’s how we win our war with temptations.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, & he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

Not today, Satan, not EVER. In JESUS’ name, AMEN.

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 almost THREE 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” 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!!

Andean Earrings (Peru)

Handcrafted by our newest Artisan partners in Peru, these unique statement earrings are showstoppers with 24k gold-plated oval studs & framed teardrop chrysocolla stones. Designed to pair with our Andean Ring, hammered metal & natural variations of swirling green chrysocolla add “Old World” charm to these ethically made earrings.

Every purchase of these beautifully hand-crafted earrings provides safe jobs with fair wages in areas of extreme poverty in Peru.

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!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!

Knowledge of the Holy Is Understanding

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10) (Emphasis mine.)

I have heard this verse fluffed up so much that from what I have been taught, I think it has mostly lost a huge part of what makes this fact so phenomenal.

This idea of “fearing God” has been often taught as an idea of awe… that God is so great that we think, “Wow, God! You’re great!” And that fearing God as wisdom basically means it’s wise to think He’s pretty great.

But the more that I learn about who God is, the deeper my understanding of this phrase becomes.

All That God Is… & He Is So Much More

You see, God is SO far above & beyond what we can even IMAGINE (Isaiah 55:8-9).

He created the world & everything in it EX NIHILO, meaning out of or from NOTHING (Nehemiah 9:6; Genesis 1).

He existed before time & exists out of time, knowing everything past, present, & future simultaneously & how every aspect interacts throughout the existence of time (Psalm 139:13-16).

Even the wind & the waves obey Him (Mark 4:41).

Even the demons know God & shudder (James 2:19).

The name of God holds more power than anything else (Luke 10:17).

“For by Him all things were created, in heaven & on earth, visible & invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him & for Him.” (Colossians 1:16)

God can do immeasurably above what we can ask or even imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21).

He is the great I AM (Exodus 3:14).

God Is the Great “I AM”

We don’t have to believe in Him for Him to exist & for His laws to stand according to what He says.

And THAT is just the beginning behind the WHY we ought to fear God… & why the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

It’s a clear understanding that HE is God & I am NOT.

It’s an understanding that HE will prevail & He WILL get the glory & His plans will NOT be thwarted.

It is an understanding that only God holds the final say & will have the final word.

… That His judgements will stand, whether you agree or not.

Fearing God Is the Beginning of Wisdom

And so, having this fear (reverence, awe, & understanding that ONLY HE is GOD) & understanding that what He determines will stand… & living with that understanding… is the beginning of wisdom.

It’s a deferring to Him in everything, whether you agree with it or understand it… or not.

It’s an obedience to Him in everything, whether you think it should be done differently or believe otherwise… or not.

It’s a laying down your course of life for His will & plan.

And here is the beautiful thing… looking at the verse that follows Proverbs 9:10…

Proverbs 9:11 tells us, “For by Me, thy days shall be multiplied, & the years of thy life shall be increased.”

We Can ALWAYS Trust Him in ALL Things

In other words, fearing God is the beginning of wisdom BECAUSE God ALWAYS knows what He is talking about.

He knows EVERYTHING.

He SEES everything.

He UNDERSTANDS everything.

And His laws are perfect.

His will is perfect.

For He Cares for Us

By living for Him, we FIND LIFE (Matthew 16:25).

He came that we may have life, & to have it abundantly (John 10:10).

He came to save us from our sin (John 3:16-17).

He paid our debts for us, that if we just believe on Him, we are saved (Acts 2:21).

He does the work within us (Ephesians 3:20; Philippians 1:6).

He cleanses us (Revelation 21:5), heals us (Psalm 30:2), comforts us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4), binds up the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1), & is our loving Father (1 Corinthians 8:6), a Father to the fatherless & a Defender of widows (Psalm 68:5).

Stepping Out in Faith… A Prayer of HOPE

Sometimes it may feel like real FEAR… that we feel like, “I don’t know God. This doesn’t make sense, because life seems to be this way instead or culture says it’s this way instead. I don’t know how to believe what You say… BUT You are God & I am not, so no matter how scary it is to step out of what seems logical to me, I will obey You as the ultimate authority above my own logic, because You alone are God. Help me to obey, even when I don’t get it. In Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN.”

God Is a God of PROMISE

And the same goes with God’s promises. His promises are not “this could happen” or Him saying, “I can do this” but rather, “This WILL happen & I WILL do this.”

So, when we pray, we don’t have to beg or plead or petition for God to go through with a promise… we need to CLAIM it as FACT.

Don’t pray from a position of assumed defeat, but from an understood VICTORY, when you pray God’s promises.

If anything, say, “God, please help me to REST in this PROMISE.” Or, “God, help me to see how to move forward, knowing this is Your promise.”

CLAIM His promises as FACT.

God IS Who He says He is. God DOES what He says He will.

Shine HOPE by fearing God as the the beginning of wisdom.

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 almost THREE 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” 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!!

Pearl Drop Hoops (India)

Removable freshwater pearl drops & classic gold-toned hoops make these Pearl Drop Hoops from India stunning enough to dress up any evening outfit, yet comfortable enough to wear every day. (Pearl shown on Long Chain Necklace-Golden (India) with Darling Charms Set charms.)

In India, poverty often leads to exploitation of vulnerable women in sweatshops. Every purchase provides these Artisans with fair wages, access to healthcare, education for their children, & care for elderly family members.

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!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!

My Misunderstandings About Christianity

This week, I want to talk about something that I never really understood growing up as a Christian.

Aside from misunderstanding that Christianity was just a bunch of rules, versus the Truth that Jesus paid our debt to fulfill God’s laws & that obedience to Him is not to PROVE our faith to God, but as a way to live our faith in God. We believe, so we trust & obey….

But aside from that misunderstanding, I also mistakenly believed that Christianity had mostly to do with after death, in whether or not you will go to Heaven (eternal contentment & joy) or Hell (eternal restlessness & agony). I didn’t think God had much to do with our life before death, other than trying to “be a good person” as I believed it.

But I was wrong.

SO wrong.

There’s More to Life

And there are so many verses that point to this fact, including …… where it tells us that Jesus “came, not to condemn the world, but to save it” (John 3:17)… & “that we may have life & have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Also, consider the other, lesser talked about brother in the story of the Prodigal Son, how his father told him, in essence, “you had all of this the whole time.” (Luke 15:31)

Do we really live like we believe that God wants for us more than just to “get through life” so we can experience Heaven when we die?

His Beautiful Design

Think about how God designed & created us with our senses & then extravagantly designed & created this world with so much unique beauty for our senses to appreciate, where every one of the same flower is recognizable as that type of flower, but comes in many shades & height & sizes & colors. Everything is unique & beautiful to behold. (Genesis 1)

Or, remember that God created in advance good works for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

HE planned them. HE arranged them.

And HE provides what we need when we need it & lean into Him for it. (2 Peter 1:3)

Be Being Filled

In Ephesians 5:18, God tells us to “BE FILLED with the Spirit.” (emphasis mine)

And to clarify, the Holy Spirit is with every single person who has submitted their life to God through accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior, but this verb of “Be Filled” has a deeper meaning.

This verb actually has the understanding of “be BEING filled.”

In other words, while the Holy Spirit is WITH us & is made available to every single person who has accepted Jesus Christ, we are called to this “BE BEING FILLED” idea.

We are called to submit to His lead in every relationship, in every conversation, in every task, in every decision, in every day.

We are called to lean into Him in EVERYTHING.

We Are But a Branch

This is why we are told to PRAY WITHOUT CEASING (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) & to ABIDE (stay, continue) IN CHRIST as a branch to our Vine (John 15:4).

The Bible even warns us about living as “wise in our own eyes.” (Isaiah 5:21)

Submit every preconception, every “way I grew up/was raised”, every assumption, every ideal, etc. under God’s authority & say-so, because where we can err, He will never.

Tuck everything you think you know into His unchanging, infallible Truth.

He Can

And where we drain & deplete & come up as insufficient, He does not.

He can provide peace where only chaos reigns.

He can redirect our misunderstandings to the truth.

He can see the thoughts & intentions we cannot.

He can see how this will ripple effect a future beyond our lifespan.

He knows it all.

And He is infinite. Powerful. Almighty.

He alone is Good (Mark 10:18). He is Love (1 John 4:8). He is faithful even when we are not (2 Timothy 2:13).

“Now to Him [God] who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church & in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever & ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

We need to submit to this command of be BEING filled, a continual filling, a continual leading, & a continual submission to His Lordship.

God Is All-Sufficient for Our Needs

I cannot even tell you how many times I thought I “needed” something other than God to fulfill me… something not quite in line with the impossible standard God commanded. (Impossible because I was trying to live it in my own wisdom, power, & understanding… aka without His help.)

I missed the mark (sinned). I chose my way, my solution, my “wisdom.”

And there were always unforeseen consequences… fine print.

What I yearned after never fulfilled me, but left me always searching for more… I felt like something was empty & off in my life… I felt restless & discontented.

Until it dawned on me, “Wait. If God made me… & He knows literally everything… Wouldn’t He KNOW what’s best for me in this? Shouldn’t I drop my way & try His? Doesn’t that make sense?”

Sins –> Harmful Fine Print –> Turning to His Way –> Blessings

And guess what, this has always worked in every area where I was compromising to get what I thought I was missing from God, getting hurt by the consequences of a wrong solution, to turning to God’s way & realizing the blessings His way brought me.

… with flirting to gain approval & to “end” my insecurities (only to be left feeling trapped that if I don’t keep playing the game, I lose)… with turning to fantasies because it felt less vulnerable than dealing with assault trauma from my past… with turning to tv/games/numbing myself vs turning to God in my despairing moments, including fights with depression…

With all of those above examples, when I had that realization that “God made me… knows everything… would know what I need…” & I STOPPED my “wisdom” for HIS… I found the hope I was so desperately searching for.

We need to submit to Him because only He actually knows what we need.

We Need to Submit to Him–Continually

We need to submit to Him because only He knows what we were designed & created for (because we were designed & created BY GOD.)

We need to submit to Him because ONLY He has any real authority over anything in life.

He alone is King.

He alone is GOD ALMIGHTY.

And only He loves you infinitely/unconditionally, sent Jesus to willingly pay your debts to Him, & knows you better than you could ever know yourself.

Be BEING Filled. Submit to Him in EVERYTHING.

Our Part in Life… Letting HIM Shine

Because 100% He knows better & already has a plan in place.

You just have to be willing to follow His lead, with His help.

That’s it. That’s your part.

You shine Hope by letting HIM shine through 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 almost THREE 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” 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!!

Moonstone Hoops (India)

Artisans from India cut & frame moonstones on these gold-toned elliptical hoops. Moonstones are prized in India for the unique way they reflect light.

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!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!

Forgiveness Is Important to God

Forgiveness is a pretty big deal to God. So much so that He set the ultimate example in that “while we were still sinners, Jesus Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

But it’s something that is very challenging for me.

It’s not that I hold grudges or get pouty, but if someone is intentionally spiteful or if I see a Christian, who represents Jesus Christ, misrepresenting Him, I can feel an immediate wall go up between me & that person.

I understand that we can sharpen one another as iron sharpen iron (Proverbs 27:17) & that certain circumstances require loving confrontation to correct the wrong (2 Timothy 4:1-5) (Ephesians 4:15), but in the case of someone who is unrepentant or uncaring, we are called to forgive anyway. (Matthew 18:21-22)

Not Understanding

Learning to forgive is something I have been praying over for the last couple of years or so.

… Not that I mean to be unforgiving, but I struggle even understanding what it means TO forgive.

Some people describe forgiveness as a “forgive & forget,” while others say “forgive but be smart & never forget.” Still others act like forgiveness means completely excusing the wrongs committed.

Apologies Go a LONG WAY

In my past, I have often had people say very hurtful things to me that caused a lot of emotional scarring on my heart, only to have that person brush it off after their emotions calmed down, implying to me that their hot emotions justified their hurtful words.

This sort of behavior can be quite harmful, as it makes the victim feel to blame.

That is why it is so important, if you emotionally lash out at someone, whether they be your child, spouse, parent, friend, or stranger—to apologize—to take responsibility for it & express remorse to the person wronged.

Taking the Burden on Myself

On my end, I cultivated an even more dangerous habit in response… I began holding on to their wrongs myself, as if me deciding to let them go justified those wrongs somehow. In my opinion, those wrongs needed to be seen as wrong & if the person wouldn’t acknowledge it, my heart wouldn’t let it go.

I wanted that wrong to be treated as a wrong versus being swept away as if justified.

But that’s not my job. I don’t need to bear that burden or responsibility.

Jesus paid for those wrongs. God is the Judge.

Not me.

My Journey with Forgiveness

And that’s what God has been teaching me in my quest to understand the meaning & practical application of forgiveness.

I don’t have to hold on to those wrongs.

God knows those wrongs are wrong. God is the Righteous & Perfect Judge. HE can & will handle it, even if that means it being covered on the cross when Jesus paid our debt before God.

And then the Holy Spirit brought a passage in Matthew 18 to mind. (In other words, God brought in “the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17) aka RHEMA, where He seems to highlight a section of Scripture meant to deal directly with what you have been seeking God for help with.)

The Unforgiving Servant

This passage in Matthew 18 contains a parable (story told in the Bible to illustrate a specific Truth from God) about the Unforgiving Servant. Read about him below:

“Then Peter came to Him [Jesus] & said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, & I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife & children & all that he had, & that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, & I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, & forgave him the debt.

“But that servant went out & found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; & he laid hands on him & took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So, his fellow servant fell down at his feet & begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, & I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went & threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So, when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, & came & told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, & delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

“So, My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” (Matthew 18:21-35)

A Truth from the Parable

As you can see from this parable, unforgiveness is no joking matter to God. He takes it very seriously.

And in His seemingly harsh reaction to it, we can be tempted to forget that the punishment threatened here is exactly what we deserve.

Actually, we deserve Hell because of our “infractions” aka SIN against God, but instead of demanding we suffer or pay, He covered our debt through His compassion for us.

But then for us, having been forgiven SO MUCH by HIM, to go & NOT forgive so much LESS from others… well, in God’s eyes, it is deserving of the wrath we had been spared.

We need to be careful not to hold what others owe us over their heads.

Because God surely doesn’t do that to us, & if He did, we would surely be crushed under the weight of all we would owe Him.

Forgiveness Even When Found Guilty

In that story, the fellow servant owed the original servant. It’s not that the servant was innocent & “deserving” of forgiveness. The servant owed money & deserved repercussions for not paying what was owed.

But that first servant was called to forgive anyway… because he had been forgiven a debt far greater.

Dealing with Unforgiveness

Forgiveness seems impossible when I am only looking at what others owe me or at the wrongs they have done against me… when I see their lack of innocence as glaringly obvious….

… But then, when I compare their debt to myself & my forgiven debt to God….

… And ask God to help me let go & let Him take His seat as Redeemer & Judge…

… Then it’s a lot harder for me to keep holding on to that unforgiveness against their wrongs.

Because I deserve GOD’s wrath, but He forgave me & covered my debt when I asked Him to cover me. He had compassion on me.

Let Go, Let God, Pray & Forgive

I need to remember that when I am wronged. I need to pray for them who persecute me & love those who make themselves my enemy (Matthew 5:44) & consider their payment as also coverable by Jesus’ blood, just as mine was covered.

And I need to forgive, let go, & let God.

Shine Hope by letting God sit in the Judge’s seat & by trusting Him to handle it… because that’s not your burden to bear anymore or ever.

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!!

Long Chain Necklace-Silver (India)

This silver-tone link-chain design is handcrafted in India & is totally on-trend! Wear alone, double up, or layer together with other chain necklaces from our One World Collection, like our Long Chain Necklace – Gold. Every purchase provides fair trade jobs in areas of extreme poverty in India.

Artisan Story

Vishnu’s Story of Hope:

“When I was 19 years old my friend introduced me to this work. Then I started work with a factory. When I was in the first factory, the boss & working environment were not friendly. I also faced issues with my colleagues. I was not liking the work much.

But now, I enjoy my work. I like making & setting stones with the silver & brass jewelry, mostly setting earrings & rings. I’m educating my children & my work is helping me to achieve my family goals. I’m still facing hardships in my life, but I like being an Artisan. I hope to earn more for my family & fulfill their dreams, so they can enjoy a good life in the 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!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me to continue supporting them as well as continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win win!