Enjoying God Flows into Obedience

This topic about obedience flows nicely from our short 3-part series about “Enjoying God” that we just finished up… so let’s talk about why obedience is not a bad word.

Once you begin to see God’s loving, forgiving, & patient nature, you also begin to see how EVERY rule & command that God gives us is actually meant for our BENEFIT… & I mean EVERY one of them.

God Knows Everything… Literally

The reason we are called to obey God & are commanded so fiercely & repetitively to do so, is because God is our Sovereign, Eternal, & Almighty Creator God Who also happens to know literally EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING… & He happens to love us more than comprehension.

But It’s So Hard…!

The reason it is SO HARD to obey God is because since the eating from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good & evil back in the Garden of Eden, we all (to some degree) THINK we might possibly know better than Him, especially when what He tells us is the exact opposite of what we WANT to do. And, to top it off, OTHER PEOPLE are constantly making wrong choices due to this fact, making us think it’s up to us to regain the balance & fix things… As if God needs our help?

AND, as if obedience wasn’t hard enough because of our own perception & desires, God warns us that Satan is constantly on the prowl to whisper little doubts about God that convince us to follow our own whims & ways instead of God’s. We make the choice, but Satan is always looking for ways to give us that extra nudge to convince us toward our way & away from our hope found only in God.

Obedience Builds Trust

But, let’s circle it back to where this discussion began… Enjoying God.

Every little instruction, command, or rule that God gives is not only for our benefit, but is also designed & declared by our loving, all-knowing, sovereign, almighty, eternal GOD. Basically, He’s WORTH TRUSTING way more than the so-called “benefits” of trusting ourselves.

And that is a huge reason why obedience is not a bad word.

His Words Aren’t His “Version” of Truth… His Words DEFINE TRUTH

Another thing to consider is that His commands are not His opinions & are less like power hungry commands & more like the Law of Gravity. It just IS. His laws just ARE.

It’s not a debatable, maybe-I-know-better type law from a fallible leader, but coming from an All-Knowing, Eternal, Almighty, Sovereign, Creator God.

His laws & commands aren’t just rules… they are indicative of what just IS.

And that’s why it’s best to obey & to trust & to live those laws of His, because when we do, life somehow, against all our human judgement & intelligence & understanding, His laws ALWAYS just seems to work out infinitely better than our ways.

Because His Words just ARE.

They aren’t just His determination of truth… His Words DEFINE TRUTH.

We Need His Help & He Gives It

So, what do we do when we REALLY want to do our way? When we think that THIS TIME we REALLY think that we’re right instead of God? When Satan’s whispers are SO TEMPTING that we want to go right through with what WE WANT?

Tell God all about it. Slump “at His feet” if you need to. Tell Him your inward battles. Tell Him how much you don’t want to trust Him. Tell Him how you really REALLY just want to do it your way. Tell Him you need His help to trust Him more than you trust yourself. And ask for His help!

Those are all things I have learned that I need to tell God… even if reluctantly at first. Usually it starts with a deep sigh, fighting every ounce of me that want to do it my way & I just start by being honest with God.

Getting Real with God

Usually, my prayers around obedience sound something like this:

“God, *SIGH*. I REALLY REALLY REEEAAAALLLLY think that I would rather do this than that. I don’t think You’re right & I am sorry for that, but I just really want this way. HELP ME. Help me trust You because right now I really don’t want to. Please. I want my way in this because Your way seems way too hard & I just feel anxious & I just want my way because it feels easier right now. Help me, please! I know deep down that You MUST know better than me because You are God & I am not, but I want my way, so please help me to trust You & do it Your way instead. Help me come off my own pedestal in all my limitations to put You back up there where You belong. Please help me because it seems impossible to do it Your way right now. Please help me trust You more with all Your great love for me & help me accomplish Your way… Give me what I need: the courage & strength & confidence, to do what You say I should do. Thank You for always listening to my cries in all my weak moments & for helping me every step as I lean into You. Amen.”

It’s Okay to Struggle with It… But Take That Struggle to God for HELP

It’s okay to have a hard time trusting God & it’s okay to admit that to Him & to ask for His help to trust Him when it’s hard.

But let me reassure you that obedience, when it comes to God’s commands & rules, is NEVER a bad word, as they are ALWAYS designed & declared & commanded of us for OUR BENEFIT.

Lord, Help us to trust You & obey You & to ask for Your help in the many times where that just seems impossible. Thank You for Your faithful help & care for us!! AMEN!

Shine HOPE by trusting God & OBEYING HIM. 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 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!!

Eternal Pearl Set

Delicate freshwater pearls make each of these classic pieces perfect for every occasion.

Artisan Information:

In India, poverty is rampant & fair working conditions are hard to find. But with every purchase, women are receiving an income, access to healthcare, adult literacy programs, & self-help groups! Not only does this change their lives, but they are also pouring back into their communities & helping others! You have the opportunity to empower thousands of women 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!

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!

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!

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!

A Story of a Girl

She sat in front of the mirror, studying her reflection.

Her smile faltered & she let it fade completely from her face, too tired to maintain the façade in the private of her own room.

“What’s wrong with me?” she whispered quietly to herself, feeling the weight of the world on her back. “Why am I the only one who can’t seem to get her life together? Why do I feel like I have to fake it through life? Isn’t there more to this? What’s wrong with me?”

She was too tired to cry tonight, too tired of feeling so useless & weak. Every day she looked around at everyone smiling & they all seemed to somehow have discovered the secret to happiness & success that she couldn’t quite figure out. They all were so confident & capable. They had their life together.

“But not me.” The weight of her words hit her & she almost let herself cry, but not this time. She wouldn’t give in to the tears again. She would try harder next time & she would stop being such a big baby.

What could God do for her anyway? Does He even see all she has done? No, there was no redeeming that. Her best bet was to just suck it up & try harder next time. “Where did that come from? God? Why did I think of Him?”

Some people told her “God” could make it better… through… Jesus? But they were diluted & wishful thinking their troubles away. What a bunch of fake people. What could God do anyway? He couldn’t just magically make her not suck at life. And what’s the point? Everyone struggles, so what? This is just life. You learn to suck it up, get tougher skin, & just try again & sometimes you get it right & sometimes you don’t. That’s just life. And everyone else seems to be doing just fine that way.

Her friend had told her the other day that “Jesus” can help her. “HA. I don’t need help. So, I cry sometimes? So what? Everyone has bad days & everyone seems just fine with it, so obviously I just need to tough it out until I figure it out.”

Something didn’t sit right with her when she said those words out loud.

Can it get better? Was she missing out? “No, I will just keep going & keep trying. I’ll be fine. I’m fine. Everything is fine.”

Everyone Else Seems Just Fine, But Are They?

Have you ever felt like the fictional girl in this story? I most definitely have.

Before I surrendered more of my life to God, thinking I was saved from Hell & that was the end of it, I didn’t realize God meant to help me in life, TOO.

We look around at the world around us & it seems life everyone else just has it figured out, while we feel like the losers who just can’t seem to get it right.

Everyone else is doing these things the Bible calls sin & yet they seem confident in it & their life seems perfect, so we question God.

But what we often fail to realize is that every person, whether they have stuffed it so deep under denial that it can’t be seen or whether they cry alone in their room at night like the girl in the above story, EVERY person struggles when they turn away from God’s ways to do it their own way. EVERY person.

We Need More Than Ourselves

That’s because God has 100% PERFECT wisdom, knowledge, & understanding, so when He tells us to avoid stuff, it’s NOT so He can control us & deprive us of enjoying life in some strange, narcissistic demand… It’s out of LOVE… For US.

My aunt shared a quote from a pastor saying something along the lines of, “Satan has tricked so many of us into thinking that the way to “prove” our faith is to try everything WITHOUT God’s help, to prove God has given us all we need to do it on our own…. When in reality, TRUE faith recognizes our very real NEED for God in every aspect of life.”

The Big Lie

You see, we’re lied to. We’re told that if it doesn’t feel right when we “sin”, we just need to toughen up because everyone else seems just fine with it. (Sin is real, so that is not the reason for the “” but rather that we don’t always like accepting sin as sin when we have good intentions, am I right?)

Taken Out of Context

Think of it in the realm of SEX. That’s right, I’m going there….

Culture tells us that anywhere with anyone at anytime is natural & fine & normal… that it makes us feel loved & wanted. I mean, watch any chic flick—a sex scene, even an implied one, is almost inevitable in every one of them.

Now, GOD tells us that He MADE sex to be ENJOYED between MAN & WIFE.

He ALSO warns us to AVOID it OUTSIDE of marriage.

So, sex is made by God—to be enjoyed—but culture has corrupted that gift & blessing of God to encourage “enjoying” it in almost any context & definitely in the ways God clearly instructs us to avoid—because He KNOWS it will end up hurting us when taken out of context.

Sin Hurts

And here’s the thing, we can engage in “impure” activities whether that be casual sex, anything-but-sex impurity, pornography, etc. AKA outside of the guidelines God designed for sex to be enjoyed… & CONVINCE ourselves that because EVERYONE else seems A-Okay with it (see almost every romcom & most television nowadays), that our emptiness or hollow after-effects must be OUR personal weakness & problem that WE need to GET OVER. (I have been there!)

But it hurts quite simply because it’s a corruption of something God meant to be GOOD & pure & whole & free of scars/betrayal/trauma/etc., IN MARRIAGE.

God Can Redeem All Things

I must remind us right here, for those of US (*me included), who have messed this whole thing up & given in to the corruption of God’s desired blessing for us to enjoy/

(I always thought sexual impurity before marriage only meant “don’t have sex”—I was wrong & I got hurt as a result.)

GOD CAN REDEEM ANYTHING.

There is NOTHING outside of God’s power to redeem, renew, & restore.

He is so good to us in that NO MATTER how badly we feel we have screwed everything up—He is always waiting with open arms & a grace-filled heart toward us.

Loving, Perfect Instruction

Let me shift some perspectives here. It’s easy to see God as the giant RULE-GIVER in the sky, looking to control all of us & determine our faith by how readily we give up all fun to follow His rules instead of enjoying life.

But that is INCORRECT.

God IS Love. He EQUALS Love.

He also has infinite, 100% PERFECT wisdom, understanding, & knowledge.

So, when He tells you, “Don’t Do That or Such & Such Will Happen,” it is less a threat (Read: NOT a threat), but is rather LOVING, PERFECT instruction.

He Created Life to be GOOD, but Sin Has Distorted So Much

He knows WHAT will hurt us & HOW & in WHAT context.

He created sex, but knows if treated carelessly or shared with multiple people, the pleasantness distorted by sin (our way versus God’s way) turns to ache & hurt & hollow hearts.

And some of you may think to yourselves, in trying to justify your non-terrible intentions, “Well, we plan to MARRY, so therefore, it’s totally fine!” But, what if both parties, completely in agreement, plan to marry, but one gets hit by a bus & passes away. Now you have had sex with “Not your husband.”

Trusting Self or Trusting God?

When we try to alter God’s commands, trusting our own limited human judgement over God’s infinite perfect wisdom, we are bound to feel its affects in a negative way, not because God is punishing us, but rather because He instructed us away from it KNOWING it would hurt us… & He doesn’t want us hurt.

Does He punish us as a Father disciplining His children away from what will ultimately hurt them? Yes. But consequences of sin are not punishment, they’re just what happens when blessings are corrupted by sin & taking it out of the context of how it was designed to bless us.

Living Our Way Always Hurts Us & Others… & God

Someone once said, “A Christian who lives in sin is one of the most miserable people in existence, because part of them knows they are being disobedient, but they push that down & justify it, as their hearts break & the rift in their relationship with God grows wider.”

And even non-Christians, aka those who have not surrendered their sin to Jesus to cover their debt to God. Even non-Christians can look around, see everyone else depicted in social media, mainstream media, family, friends, CULTURE that everyone else seems just fine with it, even promoting it… so they feel their heartache is unique to them… a weakness they just need to “get over.”

But listen to this, dear one, “Satan came to steal, kill, & destroy, but JESUS came that we may have life & to have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

An Undeserved GRACE

God designed life. He gave us His perfectly wise instruction. We tossed it in the trash for our version of what seemed better to us. We feel the weight of it. We hurt from it. But Jesus died for every ME-choice we made in rejecting God’s perfect, loving wisdom. HE took our punishment on Himself when He died on the cross (because the punishment of sin is death & hell). And He ROSE AGAIN, VICTORIOUS over that sin & over death. And He welcomes us to Himself, free of charge, saying, “I have already paid your price. You are forgiven. You are free.” And all we have to do is accept our need of Him, bow our hearts in grateful surrender, pour out our sin in asking forgiveness & mercy. And He gives GRACE. Not just freeing you from the PUNISHMENT you DESERVE, but GIVING YOU LIFE in its place.

What a GOOD God, indeed!!!!!!!!!

There Is HOPE

Don’t resign to live the rest of your life “surviving.” Ask God to help you learn to do it HIS way, His 100% PERFECT WISDOM, 100% PERFECT UNDERSTANDING, & 100% PERFECT KNOWLEDGE way!

Be willing to let Him change your mind.

And we were never meant to be able to do it all on our own… we were meant to NEED God. No shame in being human just like everyone else.

You may have exhausted your attempts to change or fix it or get better or be stronger or just get over it… But God is bigger than you.

So, ASK HIM, Beautiful. And even ask Him to help you bow to & learn to do it HIS way.

Ask Him to help you trust Him more.

And Shine HOPE, through His GRACE.

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!!

Inverted Capiz Earrings

These earrings feature shimmery, creamy white capiz shells, each framed by a black edge.

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!

SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michelle@michellehydeonline.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!

My Regular Prayer

If you have been following my blog journey for any amount of time, you might have recognized that a common thing for me to pray is, “Lord, Help me to Know & Love You more.”

The story behind this prayer can be found, here, but this prayer has become a priority focus in my life because the weight of it is so profound.

Not Self-Effort, But God-Surrender

In anything we attempt in life, in trying to live a life that gives God glory, we really need to start with this simple prayer in everything we try.

This is true quite simply because if we were to try & perfect every area of our lives, having that be our sole focus, we would constantly be in a scramble & would constantly be beating ourselves up at our mistakes.

But the core or our prayers should be to KNOW & LOVE GOD more, putting everything else in proper balance, with our focus on God in working out our sanctification versus us trying to do it our way, in our wisdom. Our focus should be trained on Him & following HIS lead.

Put God on Center Stage

As this becomes the focus of our prayers & our life, our perspective begins to shift to put Him in center focus. As we know Him more, we learn more of His love for us, which in turn, grows our love for Him even stronger.

So how do we do this thing of knowing & loving Him more? Besides prayer?

Faith, Love, & GOD-Trust

We trust in Him.

This may seem a little too simplistic. If you are anything like I was growing up, I had no idea what it really meant to trust God.

Let’s simplify it even further… to trust God means to take Him at His Word… to consider that He probably knows (aka DOES know) better than we ourselves do.

Now, don’t get me wrong… this is so hard for us, who want to feel capable & in control, to do. Part of our security is feeling like we can come up with a solution & THEN pray about it.

But His Word, as written in the Bible, are HIS Wisdom. His PERFECT wisdom.

And so, learning to trust Him, learning to know Him, starts with taking Him at His Word.

Feeling Capable, But Letting God Lead Instead!

This starts simply by us bowing our “know-how” to God, in saying, “God, I feel VERY strongly that it should be this way or that way, or that I think I know myself pretty well… BUT, You DID make me… You ARE God Almighty. So, if I am wrong, please change my mind.”

Be willing to let God change your mind.

Honestly, we can all agree that we don’t always make the best judgement calls & that our plans don’t usually work out quite as splendidly as we imagined they would. Even if they turn out pretty good, something always just seems off, like we’re missing a piece to the puzzle called life.

So, let God change your mind.

Proven True, Every Time

The more you seek to live a trust in His Word, the more you will find it proven true, no matter how impossible or unbelievable it may sound to us when we first try. He will always be proven right, 100% of the time. That’s PERFECT wisdom for ya.

This week’s post is short, but powerful. And hopefully it being short allows its truth to sink in even deeper. We need our prayers & life to revolve around knowing & loving God more… & as we do that, we begin to set in proper focus all the rest of our life, as we see Him gently guide, lead, & help us every step of our growth through life.

How to Know & Love God More

Let’s review how to know & love God more:

1. Start by knowing His Word: Reading it, taking notes, looking up original Greek/Hebrew words, praying over it for God’s discernment & for the Truth to be made clear to you.

2. And trust His Word, as is—As I said above, learn to let God change your mind. And ask Him to do so in revealing HIS perfect wisdom & truth to overshadow your limited understanding, wisdom, knowledge, perspective, & abilities.

3. And finally, Beautiful one, BE PRAYING. TALK to Him. Get to know Him. Share your heart, your aches, your pains, your fears, gripes, worries, upsets, confusion, doubts, anger, stress, anxiety, weaknesses, hurts, joys, celebrations, excitement, love, hopes, dreams, share EVERYTHING. Talk. To. HIM.

This concept might be simple, but I promise you, it’s profound. Seek Him in everything & learn to know & love Him MORE.

Shine HOPE!

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!!

Lotus Earrings

Hand-cut suede makes these flower petal-inspired earrings a perfect statement.

Artisan Information:

In India, many women are forced to work in sweatshops with unfair pay & dangerous conditions. But with every purchase, the women who make this product are now working in a safe environment, being paid a fair wage & seeing their lives change for the better! They also have access to education & financial counseling. You are empowering women to have freedom to dream again!

Purchase this piece & empower a woman in India!

SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michelle@michellehydeonline.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!

Playing Superhero

It’s easy for me to want to play superhero. I like feeling as if I have a pretty good handle on my life.

I like routine, with flexibility. The routine helps me feel grounded, but working in space for flexibility allows me to shift gears more easily, being able to tackle unknowns with a little less fluster & a little more calm.

I like control. When it all boils down, what I’m really saying is that I like control.

I am pretty sure I am not alone on this, either.

Balance Is Good, but Leave Room to Trust God FIRST

And for those who feel their schedule has NOT been ironed out yet, leaving them with a little more fluster & a little more flailing through each day… the reason we feel that way is lack of control. We want control. (Also, check out my “Managing Time, with God in Mind” post!)

It’s not that this is a bad thing to want. I am much more stable now that I have bowed my schedule woes to God & asked Him for an overhaul that allows more balance & peace in my schedule. I am much more productive that way.

But there’s a catch.

We cannot grow self-protective in our control over our schedule. We can’t RELY on our schedule & using that control as our source of confidence & peace. We can’t learn to rely on OURSELVES.

A Fresh Example Why Trusting Our Control Doesn’t Work As Well As It Seems

I have talked before about our journey of praying for a baby & how I handled it when God had not yet answered that prayer with a “yes.”

MEANWHILE, I was building a self-protection back-up plan in my heart of, “Well, if God DOESN’T give us a baby, here are all the reasons why that would probably be better ANYWAY.”

This is a natural thing for us to do because the unknown can sometimes be the scariest place to be. We want to think of how to fix the problem in a way that returns that control back to us.

BUT if we’re not careful, that new plan can REPLACE our trust in God, creating a NEW problem in & of itself.

For example, if I built up in my mind all of the ways that pregnancy & parenting would add stress, exhaustion, & hardship into my life, not to mention a more-strained bank account, how do you think I will likely react if God then were to answer us with the, “Yes, you will be parents!” answer we had been previously praying so hard for?

Trading Control for Surrender

My point is this, if our contentment/joy in our schedule, our plans, or our life is based on us having control, we will inevitably lose that façade of control & will be left vulnerable & hurting once again.

We need something MORE than our meager, unreliable means of control over our own lives to base our hope & security.

We NEED to trust GOD.

Surrendering Our Control for HIS Control

In my baby scenario, the healthiest way I could have managed that fear of His “NO” would be if I had turned to Him in the hurt & talked with Him through it, “God, I don’t understand Your “no” & it hurts! I want a baby & I don’t understand why Your plan would not include that for me. I have wanted this phase of life to become reality since I was a young girl, playing with my dolls, dreaming of someday being a Mommy to my own precious child. I want game nights & prayer times. I want to teach them about You. I want to love them SO MUCH. I don’t understand. It hurts. Please help me to trust Your plan in the midst of Your “no” right now. Help me to trust You more than I trust having a baby or not. You are the One who can offer me the most fulfillment, so please help me to see that & to grow in that understanding & love for You & trust in You. Amen.”

(To calm your possible aching hearts, I HAVE since turned my prayer time on this topic toward this direction & God HAS provided me with peace & assurance in Him, no matter the outcome. I can jump for joy with friends becoming new mamas & I can live my days in contentment & purpose, knowing God has my heart in His capable, loving hands, in His perfect & loving plan. Do I still have occasional days where my heart aches? Yes. But this is more the rarity than the norm. He has me & will continue to have me… & that’s a great & safe place for my heart to be, come what may. He’s got me.)

He Does a Much Better Job-It’s Worth It!

I like feeling capable just as much as the next girl. I like feeling in control & empowered.

But I am just a girl, knowing I have limitations & knowing my dear God who has none & who loves me infinitely more than I can express to you. (And He loves YOU just the same!)

While I crave control, I want to learn to ditch that addiction that I cling to so tightly. I want to learn to cling to Him.

Because all can change. All can fade away. I can lose it all.

But His hope remains.

His power remains.

His love remains.

His GRACE remains.

Control & Surrender-The Life-Changing Difference

I want to train my heart to pry away my white-knuckled fingers from controlling my life & circumstances & I want to ever-learn how to rest back into His capable arms, asking Him to lead my day, my steps, my words, my LIFE.

There is so much life-changing beauty in learning & living the difference between control & surrender. One leaves us reliant on our own limitations & the other frees us to trust THE God who has none.

Because THAT, my friend, is where TRUE joy & contentment can flourish… & where we can finally learn what He meant when He said, “I have come that they may have LIFE, & have it more ABUNDANTLY.” (John 10:10)

Shine HOPE by letting Him have the reins of your life & by putting your full hope in Him, no matter what life may bring.

Trust Him FIRST, last, & everywhere in between. ALWAYS.

He’s GOT you, Girl.

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!!

Ramala Bracelet Set

(Only 1 of 2 Bracelets shown in photo.)

A set of 2, these bracelets are silver, adjustable, & 1 (shown) features real moonstone, with varying hues of lilac, blue, & purple.

Artisan Information:

The poverty cycle in India continues primarily because of the lack of education. Most schools are not free or affordable. Therefore, many children never learn to read or write & grow up with limited opportunities. However, every purchase of this product empowers women to provide for their children & send them to school! You have the opportunity to end poverty & create an impact for generations to come!

Purchase this piece & empower a woman in India!

SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michelle@michellehydeonline.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!

What Does It Mean to “Give God Glory”?

First of all, let’s address the “churchy” phrase of “giving God the glory.”

I had heard that phrase in church growing up, but it never really clicked as to what exactly that meant. It sort of seemed like a, “Yeah, yeah, I know… Don’t mess up… Be a good person… Give God credit for stuff… Got it.”

But let’s start by recognizing that, first of all, none of us are “good people,” & second of all, glorifying God is less about us & more about Him.

To give God the glory simply means to put His love, goodness, power, grace, etc. on display… & to make Him famous/known.

We Were Made to Give God Glory

At first, this seemed arrogant to me, I mean really, make a bunch of humans & a whole world for them to worship you on. But that was Satan’s way of twisting the truth.

The Truth is that God knew we would reject Him in one way or another & live OUR way. He knew we would not be able to correct the mess we make as a result.

BUT, He also knew His love could cover us & so set in motion a plan to redeem us from before we were ever even made–Jesus was His plan all along.

We are MEANT to glorify God, not to satisfy His ego, but to display His love, forgiveness, & GRACE to mankind.

A HOPE-Filled Solution for a Sin-Torn World

THAT is why we are to live to give Him glory—to spend our whole lives & purpose striving to put His grace on display, filled with His patience, grace, love, tenderness, & His POWER to SAVE.

I have long heard the quote, “But WHY would a “good” God send ANYONE to Hell??!” But again, Satan is twisting the Truth into a LIE.

The true question, seeing as how God created us, knowing we would rebel & thus setting in motion a plan for our redemption… The TRUE questions is not “why would a good God send anyone to Hell,” but rather…

“WHY would anyone CHOOSE Hell over a GOOD God??!”

The Truth Satan Wants Us to Miss

God fulfilled the plan for our redemption, through perfect, sinless Jesus (God-come-as-man AKA Emmanuel, “God with us”) who WILLINGLY took on the wrath deserved for our sins upon Himself & DIED humbly FOR US, rising again-victorious over both sin & death.

All we are asked to do is to admit our wrongs against God to Him, accept our need for Him, & ask for His grace to cover us. That’s it.

Why would anyone choose Hell over a Good God?

And THAT is why we live to glorify Him. THAT is why it is our life-mission/purpose to bring Him GLORY. Because He loves us that much. Because He wants EVERYONE to know there is TRUE HOPE they can COUNT ON, found only in Him.

How Is That Reflected in Your Life?

And so I ask us this, what are we doing in life to reflect this honorable & loving God-given purpose?

Are we living for ourselves? Are we living just to get through the day? Are we living numb & shut off? Are we living trapped in trauma? Are we living the lies that Satan bottle feeds us daily?

Or… Are we laying down our longings for TRUST that HE IS SUFFICIENT… & asking God to help us find our satisfaction more in Him & less in stuff &/or lifestyle?

… Are we laying down our daily mundane woes or rushed existence to ask God the purpose He has designed for us to give Him glory? … Asking Him how WE can be a part of HIS grand mission to offer grace to the world?

… Are we asking God to help us fight where we feel trapped & broken, asking for healing & renewal & freedom from the pain that keeps us locked in place? Are we trusting He can do that?

… Are we refusing to let Satan write the narrative & instead, asking as in Psalm 139:24 to reveal where we need correction toward TRUTH & away from lies? “See if there is any offensive way in me, & lead me in the way everlasting.”

Show Up… & Let God

It is our time to stand up… to SHOW UP.

It is not up to you to save the world, but it is up to you to ask God where He will have you to go, & when… to let Him lead.

It is not reliant on your resolve, your strength, your wisdom, your courage, or anything else. It is GOD.

It is showing up daily & saying, “God, I am ready. Where do you want me? Give me the wisdom I need… the courage… the strength… the PEACE.”

Or even, “God, I CAN’T. I am nothing! I have NOTHING to offer! I am terrible at this. PLEASE HELP ME & be what I need as I seek to live for You.”

It is being slow to anger, slow to speak (for God) & QUICK TO LISTEN (to God) (James 1:9). It is having a Nehemiah heart of praying through every, “I don’t see how…” “I don’t know what to do…” “Give me the words to say….” It is realizing that WE aren’t their savior. But we know the One Who IS.

It is realizing that WE are WEAK… But HE is STRONG. … WE are FOOLISH… HE is ALL-WISE & ALL-KNOWING… WE have LIMITATIONS… HE does NOT. …WE FAIL… HE FORGIVES.

(***NOTE: I have linked those above Truths to Scripture on BibleGateway.com, so click on them to visit BibleGateway & read them for extra encouragement for just a glimpse of all God is capable.***)

Faith of a Mustard Seed…

Faith the size of a Mustard Seed–Not how big your faith is, but how big your God is.

It’s not being the faith giant that never doubts God & has perfect faith… it is humbly accepting our need of Him, our need of growth, & asking for HIS HELP. It’s not “proving” our faith by doing it all ourselves, it is proving our faith by recognizing our need for His help & ASKING for it every step!

It is not WILL-POWER… But HIS POWER.

Give God the Glory in it ALL

Giving God glory can be done in EVERY part of life, big & small.

Even if it is displayed in how you parent… In how you treat those around you… in how you answer a co-worker or friend’s questions…. Even in the little things, we can point to Him as our hope in it all… We can GIVE Him GLORY.

Shine Hope by living for Him… surrendering your will to His way… surrendering your efforts to His help… by living a life that puts His grace on display wherever you go. Not perfect, but PROGRESS.

He gives grace, not just in death, but all along the journey of life.

He’s worth the glory, so let’s seek to give it whenever humanly possible, with His help every step along the way.

Point to Him as the HOPE we ALL so desperately need. In how you bow your needs to Him, your desires, your fears, your hopes, your everything. Point to Him in it all. THAT is giving God glory.

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!

SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michelle@michellehydeonline.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!