My Mantra

My mantra for this new year of 2019 is, “Not Perfection, But Progress.”

Does anyone else tend to beat themselves up when they see how far they are from reaching certain goals or potential they see for themselves?

Each year, I tend to have some times where I am especially down on myself, looking back & seeing my failures & shortcomings as if they were glaring neon signs shouting my inadequacies.

I see where I want to be, the ways I have failed in getting there, & feel like each year there’s less & less chance I will ever get where I want to be.

That ends today.

Just Progress

I no longer want to place that pressure of unattainable perfection on my own shoulders day by day. I want, instead, to learn how to trust God in the PROGRESS.

I don’t want to stay trapped by trauma, scars, weaknesses, fears, or the failures in my past, but rather to strive in learning how to trust God to grow me into the potential He has created within me.

And then there’s the age old comparison game. “Well, she’s done this & I can’t even do this!” Everyone’s journey is different, so fix your eyes on Jesus & let Him work things out on His schedule.

This Year-Jesus

This year, I really want to work on pressing into my over-arching purpose—to glorify God in all areas of my life.

And that requires me to quit obsessing over the rearview mirror into my past, to quit obsessing over perfection in my present life, & instead, to press into the striving to know & love God more each day.

Progress, not perfection. That’s it.

God Can…

It can be paralyzing to look at everything you feel you were meant for, in comparison with where you are now.

Maybe you see your present circumstances & all of the limitations they barricade into your life. Maybe you see your past as less than victorious & wonder how that could ever change.

But God doesn’t think in “maybes”. God KNOWS what He is capable of in your life—if you are bowing it to Him. He knows His plan for you.

But God also knows our weaknesses, insecurities, limitations, failures, & fears better than anyone out there—even better than you know them yourself. AND, God knows how to help you overcome them–And even has the power to help make victory reality!

Instant Perfection Vs Perpetual Growth

As you are probably well aware, we don’t automatically become perfect upon salvation. None of us are “good Christians” when it all boils down to it.

But God is faithful & just to complete the work He began in us. HE completes the work in us—as we learn to submit each area of it to Him.

He perfects us along the way. It is not something we are expected to achieve overnight (or even in 2019). Just. Progress.

Allow Grace, Lean into Jesus, & Let Him Grow You!

So, that’s my encouragement for you this week. Allow yourself grace for your past shortcomings & allow God access to different areas of your life in need of growth. (& let Him be the author of that growth!)

Pray over each area you see needs change & trust His craftmanship to shape you into the woman He designed you to be.

As the children’s song reminds us, “He’s got the whole world in His hands.” That includes you.

Shine HOPE, Lovely, wherever you’re at in life right now, shine HOPE.

Coming Next Week

Make sure to check back next Monday morning EST for your next weekly dose of encouragement! Hope to “see” you then! (*Hint: Make sure to “Join My Tribe” at the top bar to keep from missing out!)

A Note from Michelle:

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!!

Weekly Special Spotlight:

Each week, I will feature an item that is changing lives. These pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Charisma Bracelet

This bracelet has lavender & light pink suede, threaded with faceted gold colored beads.

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! Through the sales of their beautiful pieces, women in India 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!

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!

Dreaming of You

Do you ever envision a different “you” for the future? Like, when you close your eyes & picture how you wish your life looked, it’s a little different than how your life looks right now? (Or maybe a lot different!)

I am not talking about wishing you were rich, famous, & had everything you ever wanted… I am talking more along the lines of the person you wish you were: more fit, more dedicated to God, more peaceful/calm, more involved in the community, etc.

What would you wish your future self to look like?

Maybe she…:

• Is more disciplined rather than a “whenever, whatever, maybe I’ll get it done, maybe not” type mindset
• Is more “put together” rather than “thrown together”
• Is more diligent in spending time praying & reading her Bible rather than just at church
• Gets a rush from exercise rather than staying indoors on the couch
• Enjoys savoring healthier foods rather than fatty cravings that leave her regretting her life choices
• Is more involved in her community & takes more chances when it comes to showing love to those around her rather than shying away, wondering what people might think if she’s awkward or messes up
• Has more fun rather than working all the time
• Feels more calm, relaxed, & at peace rather than STRESS OVERLOAD
• Is more adventurous/spontaneous, travels more, or gets more accomplished rather than a “Someday, I will” attitude
• Is more organized rather than a hot mess

If you’re like me, you checked off a big chunk of those descriptions for the “girl you wish you were” that you see in your mind.

I feel ya.

The “One Simple Change” Challenge

Many of those items on the list above describe my dream vision of my future self & I spend a lot of time dreaming of this girl I wish I was. And I also find myself watching years go by with little change & little realization of this dream.

… Until I heard a phrase from a friend–The “One Simple Change” challenge. (Which I am calling “One Small Change” for the sake of not stealing their company motto.)

I saw my friend posting on social media each month about her new monthly “One Simple Change” & I was both intrigued & inspired!

Time Slips By

Life tends to sweep us up & carry us off to years later, where we are left wondering how so much time has passed already with seemingly little or nothing to show for it.

Do you feel that longing? Do you feel that pull to do bigger & greater things—or maybe just to feel like you have your life more “together”?

How Do We Eat An Elephant?

So how do we get there? How do we go from longing, wishing, & dreaming those big goals, to actually arriving at that dream goal of being the Woman you wish you were?

Have you ever heard the phrase, “How do you eat an elephant…? One bite at a time”? That’s how we do this. One “bite” at a time.

One, Two, Three–Let’s Go!

First, we start getting intentional about praying over our dreams, making sure they are God-honoring, & asking for His guidance & wisdom to get there.

Second, we write out our vision. (Try using the list above & add your own!)

Third, as the title of this post, “One Big Dream, One Small Change,” suggests, we take that big dream & we start small.

Work toward your future-self goal by taking one step at a time in the right direction.

One Small Change

Ever since seeing my friend taking this “One Simple Change” motto to heart, promoting on social media what her “one simple change” was for that month, I started dreaming in steps instead of dreaming of this far off, hazy, lofty, ambiguous goal of who I wished I was.

It’s amazing how small changes can add up over the years to make big changes in your life!

Think about small habits you can try adding (or subtracting) from your routine every day for one month at a time.

Try One! Just One. And Then Go From There!

Here are some “One Small Change” ideas that I have tried & some that are on my list to try. (I have even kept a majority of them as part of daily routine now & they have been amazing!) These are things that you can try doing every day for one month, as your “One Small Change”

1. Read your Bible every day
2. Write in a Prayer Journal every day
3. Write in a Gratitude Journal every day
4. Memorize a new Bible Verse every day or week
5. Write a Note of Encouragement to someone every day
6. Listen to an encouraging/inspiring podcast each day
7. Read an encouraging/inspiring book chapter each day
8. Meal prep healthy meals every week
9. Prepare fresh vegetable/fruit bags for snacks to grab & go each day
10. Drink 2 liters of water each day
11. Go for a walk outside for 30 minutes each day
12. Sign up for a craft or sports club in your town
13. Learn a new hobby
14. Volunteer once a week for a local shelter/hospital/nursing home
15. Open a separate bank account for a vacation fund & save a little each week
16. Declutter your house by going through a different room each week to purge extras
17. Donate old clothing to shelters or thrift stores
18. Do your nails each week
19. Pick a chore/task you have been putting off & get it knocked off your list
20. Take a hot bath or try some other restful activity once a day or once a week, to unwind

These are just a small sampling of ideas for you to choose from, but try to pick something small each month to help yourself grow toward your goal!

Grow Toward Your Goal

Don’t just expect to wake up one day & be changed into that vision of your future self–Grow toward it!

Before you know it, you will be looking back to see a more God-dedicated, stronger, healthier, more disciplined, more accomplished, more restful version of yourself!

I hope you will try this with me in the coming year, as we seek to grow toward our goals. We may be shaky at first, but no one is perfect from the get-go. Give yourself grace to try, fail, & improve. Just try.

Let’s no longer wait for years to pass, only to find ourselves no further than we started. Let’s push forward. Let’s take those small steps of change. Let’s improve & grow ourselves.

All the while, let us honor God with how we live our lives & how we spend our time.

What a great way to start our new year! 2019, here we come!!

Coming Next Week

Make sure to check back next Monday morning EST for your next weekly dose of encouragement! See you then!

A Note from Michelle:

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!!

Weekly Special Spotlight:

Each week, I will feature an item that is changing lives. These pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Charisma Bracelet

This bracelet has lavender & light pink suede, threaded with faceted gold colored beads.

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!

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!

So Much to Do!

So, tomorrow is the big day–Christmas! The day that fills our hearts with wonder & glee.

There is a lot of pressure around this day, isn’t there?

I am realizing, with each passing year, that to keep traditions alive, I am actually the adult in the scenario now, haha. What a bummer, right?

My husband & I don’t have children yet, but for those of you with kids or grandkids, you have probably had this realization even stronger than I have.

It makes it a little easier to give myself a break when it’s just for me & my husband, & we can determine what to accomplish & what to skip each year.

But still, the pressure.

Can anyone relate? The shopping, the gift-wrapping, the food preparations, the dressing up & gifting for parties, the traditions, the Christmas cards (*which I have admittedly slacked off on since moving to Japan). And don’t forget decorating the tree, the house, & the yard. And maybe some Christmas nails??

The tinsel, the cards, the gifts, the music, the ornaments, the parties, the food, oh my!

There is a lot going on all at once during Christmas time.

And for those grieving a loss or spending the holidays alone, there is an extra sting that hits you during Christmas. Because Christmas is “supposed to be” jolly & bright & when it’s not, it stings that much more.

Maybe Christmas, She Thought…

But then I take a moment to reflect, as Cindy Lou Who did in The Grinch.

“Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of Christmas, but sometimes that whirlwind becomes one “Razzle Dazzle” distraction from what it’s all about—HOPE for the WORLD.

The Nativity, The Humility

Maybe, like us, you have a nativity scene in your home. Maybe it’s big, maybe it’s small. Maybe it’s brightly colored, maybe it’s muted & simple. (*My personal favorite is the Willow Tree set, gifted piece by piece from our family each year!)

But when I think over that scene, I think of one word, (besides hope)–Humility.

That Nativity scene was the scene of truest humility.

Mary humbly accepted God’s plan to carry, give birth to, & raise Jesus.

Joseph humbly accepted marrying an already pregnant woman.

The shepherds were humbly dressed & of little esteem.

The wise men humbly dropped everything to travel to meet Jesus.

The humble birth took place in a barn, surrounded by dirty animals.

Jesus was God in flesh, humbly presenting Himself as Emmanuel, God-with-Us, an eventual sacrifice for the hurting world to reunite us to Himself through His blood.

Humility.

Expensive gifts were given, but to this King of kings come as a babe,

Angels rejoiced in splendor, but to this Creator, Eternal, Majestic God come down to lowly Earth, limiting His own power to represent Love & Hope to the world.

Jesus Christ, the God of gods, came down to serve man. He came to bind up the broken-hearted, to preach Truth, to dispel confusion & lies, to heal any ailments of any passerby. He came to humble Himself to the cross for our sakes.

He had full right to rule, but He came to serve.

Humility.

Rejoicing in Him VS. the “Extra Stuff”

So, as this Christmas approaches, I am trying to keep that in the center—humility. Remembering the humility of Christ, of the Nativity scene, & remembering to humble my heart before God Almighty.

It’s the time of year that we celebrate Jesus’ birthday. Yet, He came to give us the greatest gift of all–Himself & the Way to Himself through the cross.

Growing in Humility This Christmas

I am praying that God helps me to submit more pieces of my life & heart to Him, so that He can do even better & greater things through me.

I want to be used by God.

I am not naturally humble or meek, but I know that God is worth my time, energy, & thoughts.

Be a Mary

If you have heart the story of Mary & Martha, I want to live more of a “Mary life” in a “Martha world.”

n the midst of all of the hustle & bustle, I want to intentionally stop & rest in the true hope of Christmas—Jesus Christ.

“As Jesus & His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him & asked, “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried & upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, & it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 (Emphasis added.)

So, this Christmas, be like this Mary.

Her sister, Martha, was like most of us during Christmastime—“But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made….”

There is nothing wrong with holiday traditions & celebrations, but remember not to let them overshadow the true celebration of Christmas—Jesus.

Rest in Him. Rest in the humility that the nativity presents. Rest in God’s greatness above the greatness of our holiday celebrations.

Give yourself a rest & rest in Him.

He is “what is better.” Always.

May your heart be full of joy. May you allow God to heal & bind up your broken heart. May your days be filled with His sweetest blessings. May you find REST this Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Beautiful One!!

A Note from Michelle:

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!!

Weekly Special Spotlight:

Each week, I will feature an item that is changing lives. These 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, and 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!

Know It. Believe It. Stand Firm in It.

As we draw nearer to Christmas, I think it’s important to know the things God says we can count on Him for.

Hard times, stress, grief, & other areas of strain do not take a break for Christmas, so we need to be prepared to know how to lean on the One who is above it all.

I am not ignorant of living in stress or anxiety. It can be easy for me to allow that pair to rule my life, if I let them.

And sometimes they seem to scream at me to let them rule me.

But God gives us promises that we can lean on & stand firm in in any situation, so I think it’s important to remind ourselves of those Truths constantly & daily.

Not Like Ours… BETTER

You see, God’s promises are not like ours.

We are fickle. We forget. We change our minds. We sometimes hold grudges & act accordingly (whether we intend to or not).

We are fallible. We are limited.

But God is not. He is infallible & unlimited.

He is also faithful, kind, patient, & He totally & completely loves us regardless of whether we think we are deserving.

He is steadfast. He is all-knowing & never forgets anything past, present, or future. He doesn’t go back on a promise. He doesn’t act out of spite, but always out of love.

When God gives us a promise, listen up carefully, because it will be something we can “take to the bank”, as the saying goes. In other words, we mustn’t read His promises as if they are something that COULD happen, but rather, something that WILL DEFINITELY happen.

He keeps His Word. Period.

Just Say No. And Trust God.

So, when Satan tries to bash you with lies & overwhelm you with doubts & fears & hurt & anger & bitterness & etc. etc. etc., turn to God’s Truth so you know how to knock each blow with an effective block.

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13) (Emphasis added.)

(*Check out the rest of Ephesians 6 to know what God says when He mentions the “full armor of God”.–God provides everything we need when we’re trusting in Him!!)

Know His Word… And Pray

This is one reason why knowing God’s Word is so incredibly valuable for us. Knowing God’s Word makes us stronger because we can stand firm in Truth. We don’t have to waver.

We don’t have to doubt. We aren’t easily knocked down.

Knowing His Word is so important!

But be careful to also be spending time talking with God & growing a personal relationship with Him, through prayer. (*Read more about “The Greatest Prayer-To Know & Love God” in last week’s post, here!)

If you remember, the devil even tried to tempt Jesus using God’s Word! (*Read that account in Matthew 4.) It obviously didn’t work, but it’s a lesson to us that simply knowing the Truth is not enough. We need to also be spending time with God in prayer, growing in understanding & discernment.

(*Read more about what prayer actually accomplishes, here.)

Let’s Remember Some Promises We Can Stand On

So, this week, I am going to be spending some time sharing about some of the promises of God so that we can stand firm against the lies of this world. (Lies are always authored by the devil.)

God is the author of Truth, so let’s check out a few of the things He has to tell us.

There are so many promises I could touch on today, but for the sake of brevity, I will only touch on a few.

This week, I will share about God’s sovereignty as well as His promises to:

1. Heal the broken-hearted
2. Be our refuge & our strength
3. Give wisdom to those who seek Him
4. Be our “Enough”
5. Redeem us at our worst

God Is Sovereign

God’s Sovereignty runs through everything we are talking about today, because simply put, He is ENOUGH. He is our All in all. He is our Creator, Sustainer, & Redeemer. He is Beginning & End. What He says, goes. He is the Author of Truth & Life & Love & HOPE. He. Is. GOD.

And so, in everything we talk about today (& every day), we can rest confident that what God says will happen, every single time, no matter what, always. Nothing can thwart Him.

He IS.

As Colossians 1:17 aptly puts it, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”

(*If you want a *One Page* summary of verses to describe *God’s Sovereignty*, check out this post by All About God, here. **Disclaimer, I have not checked the legitimacy of Truth on this entire site, but this page is legit & Scripture-soaked in goodness!)

God Heals the Broken-Hearted

So, for our first promise to cover for today, God tells us that, among other things, one mission of His is to bind up/heal the broken-hearted.

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;….” (Isaiah 61:1) (emphasis added)

He doesn’t just want to simply help you cover up old wounds, He wants to bring healing. He CAN bring healing.

He is in the business of restoration.

So, let Him, Darling One.

If you have an ache that can’t be soothed, a scar that cannot seem to stop mocking you, or a grief big or small, God sees you. He sees your hidden hurting.

And He loves you so much.

Let Him Heal… Lean Into Him

Do you feel Him beckoning you into His arms? It’s not your imagination. He is not a figment of your imagination. He is real & He is faithful & He is calling to heal you.

He comes to us to heal our broken hearts & to refresh & renew us after big hurts (& little ones), as we let Him.

He knows you deeply, inside & out. He loves you the same way.

So, if that describes you (even for those background, nagging hurts that you try to convince yourself aren’t there or that you can “handle them.”), lean into Him & ask for His healing.

Don’t put all the weight of that burden on yourself, Darling. Dump it in His willing, loving, able arms & let Him wrap you up in comfort & love & healing.

God Is Our Refuge & Our Strength

This carries into our second promise to cover in this post, from Psalm 46:1-3, 7:

“God is our refuge & strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar & be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah…
… The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah” (Emphasis added.)

Not only does God promise to heal our hurts, He also promises to be a refuge for us in times of troubles.

When we fear, when we tremble, when we worry… We can lean into Him & count on Him because He Is Enough.

He Gives Perfect Wisdom

Promise number three for today is that God gives wisdom to those who seek Him for it.

Matthew 7:7-8 says: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Emphasis added.)

And James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (Emphasis added.)

When faced with trials, temptation, anxiety, etc., we can always turn to God for the best answers to our questions.

We must remember that this does not mean asking God to confirm what we already want to believe, so we may feel justified in our own wisdom, but rather to lay aside our earthly wisdom in exchange for His Perfect Truth & Wisdom.

Do you want actual truth? Or do you just want validation to believe what you want to believe?

As says Isaiah 55, “His ways our higher than our ways.” We must learn to lay our wisdom down in exchange for asking God to fill us with His unfailing wisdom.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways,”
declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are My ways higher than your ways
and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) (Emphasis added.)

His Word never fails. We can count on it. It’s worth the trade a million times over to exchange our will & way for His. Every time.

So, seek His wisdom. Seek TRUTH. And you WILL find it in Him. Keep ASKING!

His “Enoughness”

Promise number 4 really puts everything into perspective. Stress, anxiety, fear… all of it cannot stand up to the “Enoughness” of God.

He is Sufficient. In EVERYTHING.

With every command or instruction He gives, it comes with His power to make it happen.

He doesn’t expect us to become super humans or decrepit slaves in order to obey Him.

He showers us with grace, lavishes love upon us, calls us forgiven & redeemed, & THEN gives us everything we need in order to accomplish anything He asks.

What an awesome deal!!!

And what does He ask? Well, He says that every commandment hinges on just two…

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart & with all your soul & with all your mind. This is the first & greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law & the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40) (Emphasis added.)

You see, so many of us get stressed out & wiped out simply by trying to be enough in everything, all the time.

We fail. We fall. And we despair.

We try harder. We try to be better. We fall again.

Some grow numb to serving God simply to protect themselves. While others tirelessly keep working in an effort to ever improve in this cycle.

But God is Enough. Not us. We aren’t meant to be enough. Because He IS.

“Grace & peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God & of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life & godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory & virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great & precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:2-4) (Emphasis added.)

God is enough. His power is able.

Don’t rush around trying to be the “enough” that you need so desperately. Rest in HIS.

He Redeems

And last, but certainly not least, He promises us the greatest promise of all….

…”if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord & believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes & is justified, & with the mouth one confesses & is saved.” (Romans 10:9) (Emphasis added.)

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

The best Christmas gift you can ever receive is Jesus Christ.

He fills you. He fulfills you. He comforts you. He heals you. He gives you peace & rest. He provides strength. He gives His power to do every good work. He is your ENOUGH. He loves you with everlasting, abiding, unwavering, tenacious love. He never gives up on you. He forgives. He renews. He loves. He is faithful. His promises are Truth.

So, bow your heart, Beautiful One & let Him in.

Merry Christmas!!

Coming Next Week

Make sure to check back next week on Monday morning EST for more encouragement. Love you, Lady!

A Note from Michelle:

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!!

Weekly Special Spotlight:

Each week, I will feature an item that is changing lives. These pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Petal Necklace (& Petal Stud Earrings)

This cubic zirconia floral pendant hangs from an antique golden chain & pairs perfectly with the Petal Stud Earrings.

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 and 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!

The Basics

A few weeks ago, we talked about prayer & what it actually accomplishes. (Check it out here.) But today, I wanted to take it a step further to talk about one of the greatest prayers you can pray.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with prayer, prayer is simply talking to God.

There is no magic formula to pray. God hears you when you talk with Him, whether out loud or in your heart.

To start praying, simply share your heart with God. As you learn more about His promises in the Bible, you can learn to pray more effectively, because you will learn His heart & what He has promised us.

Sometimes, we just need to be reminded that, “Oh yeah, God’s Word says He will __________________.” And we can pray & ask God to fulfill that promise in that moment, putting our focus more on the power of God & His promises than of the situation we are currently facing.

Digging Deeper

Maybe one week I will go into some of the promises of God that we can claim in prayer, but for today, I wanted to focus on one specific prayer that can change your entire life (without exaggeration!)

That prayer is to ask God to teach you to know & love God more.

You see, everything stems out of our love for God.

God spends many chapters in the Bible telling us that love is the key. Loving Him with all of our heart & mind & soul & strength… And loving others as ourselves… are the two greatest commandments, according to God.

Everything else that He asks of us will flow from obeying those two greatest commands to love Him first & to love others.

Looking Around Versus Bowing Down & Looking Up

Too often, our focus is distracted by the battle we are facing. And while it is a wonderful & worthy habit to pray for victory in those daily battles, we need to learn the even greater habit of resting in the power of God moment by moment.

You see, we can expend much energy fighting our daily battles, whether it be lack of sleep, temptations, grumpy kids, hurting marriage, tough job, etc.

And we need to be giving those trials up to God, trusting in His power, grace, & peace to sustain us in the trenches of life.

But, sometimes, we need to stop, close our eyes, & rest in WHO GOD IS.

Our mind can get so overwhelmed by the pressures of the world that we sometimes forget to look up, so to speak.

Lean Into Who God Is

He is Almighty God. He is Everlasting Father. He is Prince of Peace. He is Lord of lords, King of kings. He is the First & the Last. He is Creator. He is our Savior & Redeemer. He is our Intercessor. He is GOD.

Lean into that. Lean into HIM.

While our battles exist & while praying through them is always necessary for true victory, do not neglect the moments of just kneeling at His feet(figuratively) & just bowing your heart before the Almighty God, letting HIM be GOD in your heart, mind, soul, & strength.

The More You Know…

Learn to love Him with everything you have & are.

Pray over this fervently, passionately, diligently, continually!

As you begin to know Him more, through reading & studying His Word, the Bible… & as you learn to discern His Word through a growing relationship with Him, through prayer, your love for Him will blossom.

It is inevitable.

The Greatest Love Story

The Bible is a Love Story written to us. A story of our failures, weaknesses, insecurities, fears, mistakes… And of His undying, passionate, fierce love for us no matter the circumstances, no matter our supposed worth, no matter our failures. No matter what.

He LOVES you.

Always.

Forever.

No. Matter. What.

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

Not after we clean up our act. Not after we prove our worthiness. Notafter we pay Him back for every wrong we’ve done.

While we were still sinners….

It Was a Once & For All Kind of Deal

He died FOR us. For OUR payment. For OUR debt. HE died. FOR us.

You see, the more you study God’s Word, the more you begin see His love poured over the pages of history.

And the more you see His love, the more you tend to fall in love with Him right back.

And the more you fall in love with Him & His love for you, the more you want to know Him.

And the more you learn to know & love God, the more His love flows out of your heart & into the lives of others.

You see, I am not perfect & will never ever be (before heaven), but I am redeemed. My debt is paid for IN FULL.

I repented. I admitted God was right & I was wrong. I asked for forgiveness.

And He forgave without a moment’s hesitation.

And if you haven’t had that moment before God, He is waiting with open arms to do the same for you, Darling One.

Not Mine, But His Goodness in Me

Any good you see in me is not me, it’s Him. He trades my inadequacies for His power & love & grace.

As I learn to pour more of myself into Him, resting in His love & power & truth & grace, He takes my pride, insecurities, selfishness, & every other ugly part & He renews me for His glory.

The more I let go of, in the areas of my weaknesses, fears, & pride, the more He strengthens, renews, & redeems those areas of my life for His glory & for the good of myself & others around me.

Pray… And Don’t Stop Praying

So, pray.

Ask God to help you to know & love Him more. And don’t stop praying it. Don’t give up on that prayer & goal, because out of that flows the fountain of LIFE.

Let His love pour over you. Immerse yourself in His Word sent down to us (the Bible). And talk to Him—pray.

Don’t be content trying to serve God simply out of duty. And don’t avoid serving God because it just feels like duty.

Don’t exhaust yourself trying to be perfect for God on your own & in your own strength.

Pray & ask God to show you how to know & love Him more with each passing day.

Let Him In

Because as He shapes your heart, in love & truth, your life will begin to be an overflow from a heart focused on the grace & love & peace & power of God.

Let Him in. Let Him permeate your life in Love. Let your mind be renewed by His Truth.

And let His grace rule in your hearts & minds as you learn to live for His Kingdom & for the redemption of the world.

Live to love Him. Live to know Him.

And Shine HOPE, Lovely.

Coming Next Week

Make sure to check back next Monday morning EST for our next dose of encouragement.

Feel free to send me a message if something has spoken to your heart in a special way! I love hearing from you!!

A Note from Michelle:

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!!

Weekly Special Spotlight:

Each week, I will feature an item that is changing lives. These pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Sea Glass Necklace

Artisans recreate the look & feel of sea glass by upcycling glass bottles from local hotels & restaurants that would otherwise be discarded, & they then tumble that glass with water & sand from the Red Sea until it is smooth. Sizes & colors may vary.

Artisan Information:

Many Jordanian women have their lives controlled by their closest male relative. They balance many customs at home, creating a lack of independence. Some of these women are divorced, widowed, or married to a man who may already have many wives. But amid struggles, these women we work with arrive to a family-like workplace. They can be heard singing, laughing, & drinking tea while creating our unique jewelry made from upcycled glass bottles. Your purchase empowers them with boldness & financial independence for the first time!

Purchase this piece and empower a woman in Jordan!

(*Also pictured: Truth Earrings from 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!

Saying All the Right Things

Growing up in a Christian home, I learned early how to speak faith, but it wasn’t until much later that I realized I didn’t really live like I believed what I was saying.

Have you ever felt that way?

It’s easy to repeat back what has been poured into us, but it’s a little more challenging to stop & put into practice those truths that we take for granted knowing all our lives.

Head Knowledge Vs. Taking Action

I can know with a head knowledge, the things of the Bible, but until I start asking God how I can live like they are true, I will not really benefit from knowing the truths I know.

You see, God’s Word is not meant to be used for us to just sound righteous… It is meant to show us how to LIVE righteously.

And to be clear, we are not meant to just do all of the “right” things, but to trust God & His Word so much that we are willing to live a life obedient to His Word.

Not with Eyeservice

God mentions this sort of thing in the Bible where it says, “not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.”

God doesn’t ask us to just look like good people on the outside.

He also doesn’t ask us to try to be good on our own, but as an outpouring of His goodness in our lives. We have to be actively trusting Him for Him to teach us & guide us in righteousness.

Not Natural, But Possible!

This of course does not come naturally to us. From birth, we feel the need to look out for ourselves & have life revolve around our needs. We may even feel cheated if life does not go our way. And sometimes we even feel panicked when life is out of our perceived control (hint, it’s never really in our control!)

Surrendering to God’s way is definitely not the easy way, but it is the best way.

The Best Way

And I don’t say this as a, “look what a great Christian I am to say that we should obviously believe God’s way is the best!” I am not even saying that because I always trust in it immediately above my own will/way.

No, I am saying His way is the best way because it simply is, whether we believe it or not.

I may not always understand it or want to obey it, but God is God & I am not.

His ways are higher than mine.

He Sees It ALL

We see the world in such a limited view, but He sees the vastness of time from beginning to end, how every piece fits together.

He sees the consequences of every mistaken or selfish choice & the ripples it creates.

He KNOWS.

I may THINK I know, but He KNOWS.

And because He knows, He knows that His way is best, whether we see it or not.

I Surrender All… One Piece at a Time

And the more of our life that we choose to surrender to His way, the more we see the benefits of trusting His way above our own.

One benefit of being a Christian is the opportunity to know God & to believe what He says.

But as I said, this isn’t a natural or instantaneous result of knowing Christ.

It comes with practice.

Every piece of our life that we choose to lay before His feet, exchanging our way for His, our eyes are opened to the beauty of His truth.

Don’t Just Talk the Talk, Learn to Trust & Live It

You see, it’s easy to talk like we believe & rehash things we learn, but until we start laying down our hearts & lives to doing & living out the truth of God’s Word, we will never see the benefits that come from trusting Him.

He doesn’t just want robots who blindly do whatever He says because He is God.

He doesn’t want slaves living a life of misery & subjection to Him as a harsh ruler.

He doesn’t aim to guilt or shame us into serving Him.

Rather, He calls us to a life of trust & action through His love for us. His fervent, lavish, never-ending love for us.

To Know & Love God MORE

Beth Moore stated in her study, “Breaking Free,” that one of the most life-changing things she has ever prayed regularly was that God help her to know & love Him more.

This is my prayer for us today, that we ask Him to teach us how to know & love Him more.

He doesn’t just want you to submit your life to Him because He has that right as King over all, but because you trust His love for you. You can obey because you can trust that His love for you is pure & His ways are good.

God IS love. It is not stated just as WHAT God does, to love us, but as a definition of WHO He is. He IS love.

That is how we can willingly surrender our all to Him & His ways, because we can trust His deep love for us.

Let His Love Wash Over Everything Else

So, take a moment to pause right now. Close your eyes. Take several slow, deep breaths in & out. And ask Him to teach you how to know & love Him more. Ask Him to help you see & trust His lavish love for you.

The more you know God, the more you will see His love for you, which will make your love for Him grow. And the more your love for Him grows, the more you will want to know Him.

Ask Him

Ask Him to help you to trust Him & to therefore obey Him out of your love for Him, because He first loved you.

If you don’t know how to live out your faith or how to live the commands that God asks in His Word, start by asking God to help you know & love Him more, because the more you know Him, the more you will love Him, leading to a willingness to give your all to His love.

Let His love rule your hearts & minds as you learn to trust & obey His truth.

Shine Hope. Live for His love. PRAY.

Coming Next Week

Make sure to check back next Monday morning EST for some more encouragement. Love you!

A Note from Michelle:

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!!

Weekly Special Spotlight:

Each week, I will feature an item that is changing lives. These pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Northern Lights Studs

Empowering Women Out of Poverty in India & Haiti!

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

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 & these women have the opportunity to earn an income, attend financial management classes, & receive education and healthcare. These women are now able to give their family a promising future because of your purchase!

Purchase this piece and empower a woman in India!

(*Also pictured: Jubilee Necklace & Jubilee Bracelet Set from Haiti!)

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!

Dare to Hope

Daring to live for God in a broken world—such a rewarding endeavor that is not without its great challenges.

How easy it is for me to retract back into the safety of my comfort zone & to live for myself & for whatever seems will make me happy in that moment.

Oh, how I long for comfort. Oh, how I seek it out, willing to almost abandon all else at times just to have a small taste of sweet comfort.

The couch summons me. Pajamas call to me from their place in my dresser. Messes mock me to leave them alone. Pillows & blankets & binging my favorite television shows beckons to me. Messy buns & yoga pants rule my daily ensemble. I love comfort.

But Then…

But then I see it… I see someone in pain, or a need that someone has, or a greater depravity or trauma existing or occurring in the world around me. I see brokenness, emptiness, & unsatisfied longings in the eyes of others I pass on the street.

And I am conflicted.

The two sides of my heart battle it out. Comfort usually wins.

Too Tough to Carry?

It’s hard to acknowledge the brokenness we see daily. It’s hard to carry that weight & burden. It’s easier to retract back into the safety of my comfort zone, willing to tune out the hurts of the world in order to protect my own heart from feeling their pain.

But I am conflicted still.

What if I could do something? What if I could create change? What if I could help? What if I could shine hope into this hurting world?

But how?

Lost Cause? Or Great Potential?

I don’t know. It seems too obscure, too massive a battle to fight. I grow weary thinking of how little of an impact I would have on this breaking world. I hurt. I grieve.

And again, I retract back into the safety of my comfort zone.

I don’t know how to help.

But Then, Hope.

But then a thought. A glorious, wonderful thought.

I know someone who can help. I know someone who can help show ME how to help. I know someone with the insight & wisdom to direct my steps day by day in helping.

I have nothing to truly offer. I am guided by my fleshly desire for comfort more often than anything because it makes me feel safe, but I know someone who can give me strength & power to overcome those weaknesses.

I Know Someone

I know someone who cares about that brokenness far more than I could ever fathom, & yet never seems to give up on shining hope to them, reaching out a hand & offering freedom & love & healing to those who seek it. I know someone who never tires of this, who & never grows weary.

The Shift

And so, I stop. I stop running back to comfort. I stop giving up. I stop letting the overwhelming grief of this hurting world keep sending me back to comfort, & I cling.

I cling to that someone who can make change happen.

I am small—He is great. I am weak—He is strong. I am selfish—He is Love.

And so, I cling to hope in Him.

We’ve Got Help

You see, we don’t have to change the world on our own. We don’t have to have all the answers. We don’t have to be brave enough or strong enough to overcome our fears or apprehensions. We don’t have to go big or go home.

We just have to be willing to bow our hearts to God.

To say:

“Lord, I can’t. I am just one person & the pains of this world far exceed what I could ever do to help. I am weak. I want comfort. Help me. Change me. Mold me. Make me Your vessel for hope into this world. Show me today how I can make an impact for hope. Guide me & teach me the potential You created within me. Show me the part You will have me play in shining hope into this world. Don’t let me give up. Be my strength. Be my power. Let Your love pour out of me. Guide me. Teach me Your Truth so that I may be Your ambassador, representing Your desire to redeem this broken world to Yourself, in Your hope, Your love, Your grace. Thank You for filling in the spaces where I lack. Thank You for only requiring a willingness of us, knowing You can handle the rest. Be my enough. I love You. Amen.”

Keep Trusting His Ability

May we not give up on our mission to shine hope into this hurting world.

The task is great. The need is desperate. The hurt is overwhelming.

But God has told us rightly that, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

The task is great, but He is greater. The need is desperate, but God is able. The hurt is overwhelming, but God’s healing grace overcomes our worst.

So join with me.

Pray.

Let God fill in our gaps & let Him shine His hope of His love & His grace through you to this world that needs Him so, so much.

Let Him be your “enough” & don’t let Satan frighten you back to your comfort zone.

Because God is worth it. HOPE is worth it.

And He. Is. ABLE!

Amen.

Coming Next Week

Make sure to check back next Monday morning for more encouragement. See you then!

A Note from Michelle:

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!!

Weekly Special Spotlight:

Each week, I will feature an item that is changing lives. These pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Thai Pearl Bracelet

Empowering Women Out of Poverty in Thailand & India!

This bracelet has a waxed cotton cord that is hand-knotted to hold freshwater pearls & gold colored beads.

Artisan Information:

In remote areas of Thailand, we focus on restoring the strength of women in their country as artists. Your purchase of this bracelet empowers a diverse people, from the Karen Hill tribe, the Thai people, & the Hmong women. In this area, jobs are limited. Many women have to move to the city to find work & have to leave their children. Your purchase will help mothers stay in their hometown & earn an income, allowing them to take care of their children and watch them grow up!

Purchase this piece and empower a woman in Thailand!

(**Also pictured: Lyla Pearl Necklace–empowering women in India!**)

Shop Here, OR, Email me at michelle@michellehydeonline.com, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE, Lovely!

Feeling the Weight

Have you ever felt broken, like you didn’t deserve a second chance?

Have you ever felt the grip of guilt or shame not loosen its grip?

Have you ever cried over past mistakes & felt broken inside?

Have you ever felt beyond repair?

Me too.

Looking Back

I have never been perfect, although I tried to believe I could be, or at least make others believe that I was.

Growing up in a Christian home, going to church a couple or few times a week, I felt the pressure to be good, even though I was not.

I felt like a fraud, pretending my way through church services.

I felt ashamed to admit the truth, guessing that my family would probably have a heart attack if they knew the real me—the imperfect me. The rebellious, stubborn, prideful me.

The doubting me….

Doubts Washed Away

I had so many doubts about faith when I was growing up. Church claimed that God was the one true God, but the world claimed other gods, each defending their own religions.

I didn’t want to doubt. But I did.

If you have read my story of “Hope is Found”, you will know what happened next…. You will see how God washed my torturous doubts away like a cool summer rain. He set me free to live at peace with Him.

I know Who the real God is, whether I always like how He does things or not—He is God either way & He knows best, whether I understand in the moment or not.

Turning Away

But again, this is a new day, with new lessons to learn.

Brokenness. Guilt. Shame. Past mistakes. “Beyond repair”.

You would think that after everything that God has taught me & everything He has brought me through, I would be courageous & bold & unwavering in my faith & pursuit to honor God.

You would think.

But, here I am.

Israelites = ME

The older I get, the more I seem to relate to the Israelites in the Bible.

The Israelites were God’s chosen people & God demonstrated His love & grace & power & forgiveness & PATIENCE through His relationship with the Israelite people throughout the Bible.

Basically, their relationship went like this…

God would make them promises, saying all they had to do was trust Him wholeheartedly & follow His will & way. They would worship & praise & follow & obey. Then pride. Then hard-heartedness. Then rebellion. Then captivity. Then cries for redemption….

And then God would save them in a powerful way… & then the cycle would start again.

In our well-meaning, naïve (*Coughproudcough) way, we tend to scoff from the sidelines & shout at the Israelites as we read of their rebellions springing up yet again, “What is wrong with you guys! God JUST miraculously saved you after the awful way you have CONTINUOUSLY been treating Him & have been spitting in His face… only to have you reject Him AGAIN??? What is wrong with you?!?”

Haha.

How highly we like to think of ourselves, at times… am I right?

I am just the same as the Israelites, there is no way around it. If not worse than them….

The Results of Rebellion

I feel grieved. Some days, I just feel so empty & self-loathing. I cry, remembering my rebellion.

I feel broken.

I feel empty.

I feel like a fraud.

I feel like giving up in trying to be or claiming to be anything else.

But.

God’s grace.

His mercy.

His patience & forgiveness & faithfulness & steadfastness.

He Doesn’t Shame Us, He Sets Us Free

As much as I continually am beating myself up lately, feeling completely unworthy of yet another opportunity to be forgiven & renewed, the fact remains… He is faithful & He forgives me.

As many of you have heard, I had lived in an ocean of bitterness for the past many years.

Bitterness at praying for a child, going through doctor appointments, being told it would happen any day, receiving gifts from friends for the inevitable day that never came, living alone, feeling like if I only had a baby to love & to love me, I wouldn’t feel so alone. And feeling hurt & betrayed by God when it never happened.

Bitterness at feeling the loss of my husband’s love that was never really gone, but perceived to be as we literally fought through our first year and a half of marriage, feeling betrayed by the loss of his companionship & feeling betrayed by God for bringing me to the other side of the planet, only to feel abandoned & neglected by Jamie’s demanding work schedule & inevitable resulting high stress levels.

Bitterness at being so eager to plug into local churches, only to find out there was little I could do. Bitterness at pouring my heart & soul into encouraging others, only to find out they didn’t need it as much as I did.

Bitterness at myself for never being skinny or pretty enough & bitterness for believing that lie.

I Woke Up

And then the wake-up call came & I started crawling, wounded, untrusting, back to God.

I claimed to know to pray & let Him be God, but I still felt hurt & hesitant to let Him in my heart. He had heard my prayers & my cries & my inward screams & He had not changed my circumstances.

I blamed Him instead of trusting Him.

Has that ever been you?

And now, seeing Him forgive me & feeling Him work on changing my attitude & renewing my faith… I just feel shame & guilt & hesitation.

Humility Rains Down

I am as the Israelites.

God has blessed me through more heartache & trials & doubts than I can name. He has guided me & tenderly loved my heart toward Himself in powerful ways I could not ignore.

He gave me great promise & potential.

I got proud. I grew hard-hearted. I rebelled.

And now I cry out to Him. Undeserving, broken, scarred.

Believing the Lie That Shame Trumps Grace

I struggle the most right now with accepting His open arms.

It’s almost like I want to punish myself for being unfaithful & for turning my back on Him.

His grace hurts because it is so contrast to the way I have treated Him.

It makes me see my unfaithfulness to Him more clearly. I can’t hide from my part in pushing Him away.

Beauty from Ashes

But at the same time, it’s so beautiful.

It is so beautiful to come back to giving my faith to Him… to come home to Him & to realize that He is running out to greet me like I never crushed His heart to begin with.

It is humbling. It crushes me some days as I punish myself, (without Him asking me to).

He wants me to lay all of my shame down at His feet. All of my guilt & shame & scars at His feet, knowing I don’t have to carry them anymore… because His grace covers those.

But I grip on to them, afraid of getting away with it & then doing it all over again.

But as you can see, that is another form of not trusting Him, right? Not trusting that He is able to renew me & teach & guide me.

I don’t deserve the grace He so willingly offers to me. Not again. I knew better. But yet, He offers it to me all the same.

Letting the Walls Come Down

I am slowly trusting Him with prayer again. I am slowly opening my heart & accepting the role I played in distrusting His sovereignty & endless love for me (for all of us). I am slowly taking those badges of dishonor & handing them over to Him to let Him heal those broken parts.

I am good at defending myself, even my wrongs. I am good at self-denial. I am good at pretending I don’t know better, when rebellion knocks at the door.

But God is breaking through those lies I told to myself. The lies that said I was good as is. The lies that justified my wrong behavior. He is showing my a clear picture of myself in the mirror.

And I don’t like it.

Working to Rebuild

He is not doing this to shame me, but quite the opposite. I can feel Him peeling away all of the layers I built to defend myself, telling me, “I see you, Michelle. I REALLY see you. And I still love you. I REALLY love you!”

Not the me I try to be, in proving I can be good enough. No. The me that can never be “good enough”, but is so deeply loved just the same.

And He feels the same about you. He sees your scars & your coverups & your denial… And He REALLY loves you… for who you are behind all of the masks that we use to hide ourselves.

When I rebelled, the truth remains that God never left. He never betrayed or broke me. I did that.

If I Had Never Left & Even Now

He offered me hope in my disappointment, comfort in my longing, & friendship in my loneliness… But I rejected it & spat in His face because it wasn’t how I thought it should be. How I thought I wanted it to be.

It is possible to be held captive by what you were once set free from….

But the other side is just as true… It is always possible to be redeemed by what holds you captive.

A Clean Slate. A Renewed Heart & Faith

God doesn’t keep track. He doesn’t tick away at how many times He will rescue you from yourself before giving up on you. He will never give up on you. He knows we are like the Israelites, prone to wander & rebel. And He loves us anyway!

He is also loving & forgiving & patient & kind & powerful & sovereign & faithful.

If you come to Him with a repentant heart, wanting to throw away the broken, sinful, ashamed, selfish, rebellious you & exchange it for all that He offers… He is always willing & waiting with open arms.

Run To Him

So, run back, Lovely.

No matter how far you feel you have run from Him. No matter how lost you feel you are. No matter how far gone or broken or torn down you feel. RUN BACK TO HIS OPEN ARMS.

He is waiting to welcome you home… Every time… No matter what… I promise.

So. Run. Back. Home.

And leave those awful pits of guilt at His throne. Trust His grace to be more powerful than your shame.

And let Him set you free.

Let Him.

Coming Next Week

Join me next week for the next topic of encouragement! Please pray that God continue to heal my heart & to keep me steadfast in seeking Him as I seek to encourage all of you to run to Him with all you are.

He loves you.

A Note from Michelle:

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!!

Weekly Special Spotlight:

Each week, I will feature an item that is changing lives. These pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Bombolulu Earrings

Empowering Women in Kenya Out of Poverty!

These hammered earrings are made from heavy-gauged metal.

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, and become important parts of their communities!

Purchase this piece and empower a woman in Kenya!

Shop Here, OR, Email me at michelle@michellehydeonline.com, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE, Lovely!

Getting Real

Being “Authentic” is a tricky topic for most people, including myself. I think it’s tricky because oftentimes, we aren’t completely sure what is the “real” us.

This may not seem to make sense, because it sounds so ridiculous, but the fact is that none of us really know who our authentic selves are—not completely or accurately anyway.

That sounds pretty crazy, but hopefully after we take some time to discuss it further, it will begin to make more sense.

We Should Know, Right?

In all logic, it seems that of all the people who should really know who we are on the inside,  it would be us, right?

But how well do we really know ourselves?

Let me explain.

We all have our perception of reality. This is sometimes labeled as “our truth” because it’s how we personally see the world around us & also how we see ourselves.

But is it always accurate?

Probably not so much.

Here’s why….

For starters, we were all shaped as children, by our surroundings. This could include, but is not limited to, childhood trauma, for example. But it can also be something as simple as the ideologies of our parents & how we were raised, as a result.

We Are Shaped By What We Know

Something so awful can happen to us, or even a subtle wrong… And it can often become etched into our minds as truth, even if it isn’t!

A common example of this would be seeing a parent abandon the family, thus “realizing” that marriages don’t really work… creating a fear of intimacy or long-term commitment.

Another example is hearing how your parent describes someone of a different nationality, upbringing, or even judging based on outside appearances such as weight.

We will often grow up with a prejudice built into our brains, as a result of this upbringing, that we are not even fully aware of as wrong or incorrect.

Image issues, insecurities, commitment or other phobias, etc. can be etched into our subconscious so deeply that we may not even see them as anything other than “just the way things are,” because they are “our truth.”

Our idea of truth can be completely wrong, but feel so completely right because it is all we have ever known.

Family Histories Often Seem Like FACT

Also, considering how we grew up or even our family histories, it can be ingrained in us even further that that is just the way life is, & that there is little we can do to change things.

Because it has been approved or acted upon for years, or decades even, it seems to us as factual.

So who are we really? How can we truly be authentic if we don’t have a clear picture as to who we really are?

Perception Doesn’t Always Equal Truth

The other thing to consider is perception.

Perception is a tricky thing because it is just how it sounds—it is OUR perception. It is simply how we perceive things to be, even if they are not actually that way,

We may even have something happen to us or around us, & we might perceive it as a specific turn of events or as a memory etched in our minds, when really, we misinterpreted the situation completely, whether for the better, or for the worse.

For example, seeing a grumpy look on someone’s face & assuming they dislike something about you, when really, someone may have just done something awful to THEM & they were struggling at hiding their physical facial reaction, which just happened to be aimed in your direction.

I could list TONS of other examples, but I think we can agree that this sort of thing has probably happened to us & we have probably inadvertently caused this same situation to happen to some other bystander.

Perception is a powerful influencer, but it is not always based on reality.

So Much Out There

There are so many outside factors that shape what we believe about who we are, even if many of them are lies.

So, considering these factors, how are we supposed to know who we really are?

Do you ever feel like you are living life, the best you know how, but something just never seems to fit? Like you don’t WANT to be “like that” or do “that” or live “that way”? But it just seems like it’s “just the way things are?”

Or maybe it seems like that is “just who YOU are” & you can’t change it?

I have struggled against that angst many times growing up.

But I oftentimes convince myself to just accept it & to flourish despite it (instead of changing my idea of who I really am based on actual facts or truth).

What the Heart Wants

We want to be “real” or “true to ourselves” but we often don’t REALLY know what that even looks like!

How confusing.

On top of those considerations, we sometimes want or long for things that are not actually what we want in the long run.

We can be so convinced that we have found what our heart so longs for, & then be completely wrong about it. (Keep reading… Hope is coming through all of this!)

Take my experience with my first serious relationship. I was so convinced that he was the absolute best man for me & I was ready to accept a ring & start a life of endless bliss with him.

I wanted it more than anything I had ever wanted!

I was sure of my decision–More sure than anything I had ever known.

But when I prayed about it, something just felt off. I never received peace, even though I was so sure that I wanted to be with this man forever & ever.

Obeying When We Don’t Understand

I obeyed that nudging from God through my lack of peace & I trusted God enough to let go, breaking my heart as well as his. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do. But I don’t regret it, because I knew God was behind it & I trusted Him more than myself.

But then I met my husband, a decade or so later, & I realized that God had a better plan for me than I had had for myself. My husband didn’t seem like my “dreamboat” from first glance, the way the other man had, but the longer we are married (six years now), the more he seems tailored to fit my weaknesses & insecurities & past & future better than I imagined possible.

Long story short, I am so glad that I trusted God above my own fierce desires & temptations to believe that my heart knew better than God a decade earlier.

The Bible even speaks to this, “The heart is deceitful above all things… Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

“Be True to Self”

How can I trust myself to be “true to myself” when that understanding of myself is so often incorrect or incomplete?

And again (& in so many other verses as well), the Bible speaks to this: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You see, because we don’t fully understand ourselves the way God does, we can’t really understand what will help or benefit us in the long run… We only have a marred & blurry glimpse into what we think we want or need right now, in this moment.

But God sees the full picture. He knows you inside & out. He sees your comings & goings, when you sit & when you rise (Psalm 139:2). He numbers every hair on your head (Luke 12:7). He knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). He sees all things & knows all things. Your past, present, & future are laid out before Him.

He Knows Us

He can be trusted to know us better than we know ourselves.

And here comes another doozy… We all want to be liked & accepted for “who we are,” even though we ourselves often do not know who that is.

We shape so many behaviors in this quest to find true love & acceptance for who we are. Sometimes we highlight what we believe to be better about ourselves & sometimes we hide away what we believe others can’t love.

We want so badly for someone to “get us”, the “real” us, but oftentimes, we are left wanting more, because we may not fully understand what will satisfy that longing fully & completely.

But here’s the thing… We will never be fully satisfied on this “hamster wheel” of trying to be “authentic” & “liked.”

We were meant to find our satisfaction & identity & worth in Jesus Christ.

God Wants You to Know Yourself Through HIS Design!

God made you for a relationship with Himself.

God MADE you. He KNOWS you.

So take the time to ask Him about HIS design for you. Be willing to toss out all presuppositions, perceptions, passions, or longings to ask Him what you were designed for & to show you what will actually satisfy you the way you are so desperately searching.

Ask Him.

I went through the same process & I was amazed, awed, & so glad I did!

I have a long way to go & many areas that I excuse or hide about myself because I think it’s just a part of me, but God knows better & I refuse to leave it at my own perception or even my own ability to change.

He is bigger & wiser & stronger & more powerful & more loving & more ABLE than we will ever comprehend.

So, ask Him!

Ask Him & Don’t Stop Asking Him

Refuse to accept the prison chains that hold you back or hold you down.

Ask Him to let His Truth set you free—for Good! (John 8:31-32)

Don’t settle for a façade. Don’t settle for anything less than the beautiful design that God intended for you, Lovely. Ask Him.

Coming Next Week

Join me next week for more encouragement on michellehydeonline.com! See you then!

A Note from Michelle:

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!!

Weekly Special Spotlight:

Each week, I will feature an item that is changing lives. These pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Stardust Studs

Empowering women out of poverty in India & Jordan!

These sterling silver stud earrings hold a white opaque moonstone.

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! Through these artisan groups, these women in India have the opportunity to earn an income, attend financial management classes, & receive education and healthcare. These women are now able to give their family a promising future because of your purchase!

Purchase this piece and empower a woman in India!

(*Also pictured: Sea Glass Necklace from Jordan)

Shop Here, OR, Email me at michelle@michellehydeonline.com, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE, Lovely!

Sounds Good to Me…

We all like to think of ourselves as good people, don’t we?

Except for those low days that we may feel self-loathing, we generally feel like we are pretty good.

At least I do.

Maybe it’s because we help others who are hurting. Maybe we give money to people in need. Maybe we are generally pretty kind with others. Maybe we’re good at forgiving others. Maybe a million other things that are good things in & of themselves… But do they make US good?

I Like to Think of Myself

I like to think about my good qualities, & ignore my bad qualities. Weaknesses are a different thing altogether—I can acknowledge those pretty easily—but “badness” or evil or sin? Nope… I like to justify those into oblivion.

Are you with me on that? Do you also try to excuse your own bad behavior? Bad thoughts? Bad past (or present)?

Sometimes we are too busy comparing the bad with the good, feeling the latter outweighs the former.

Sometimes we are too busy comparing our badness with someone else’s whose is “worse.”

Sometimes we are just plain ignorant.

Sometimes we are too busy justifying our own actions to see there actually was a better alternative.

We all have our own personal ways of covering up the less appealing sides of ourselves.

The Pressure to “Be Good”

We sometimes feel pressure from others who expect better or seem better than we are, & we fake a façade to fit in or be liked.

But count on this… that evil is there.

I grew up in a Christian home & was taught from a young age all of the right things to say & all the right things to do. I was pretty much taught how to ACT good. But on the inside, I was just like anyone else. Rotten.

Growing up, knowing I knew all of the “right” things to do & say, I began believing that I was a pretty good person, compared to the world, at least.

I grew accustomed to subconsciously conducting a goodness check on myself, realizing that I at least wasn’t doing “that.”

But all of that was a lie I used to make me feel good about myself… justified… deserving of the grace God had given me.

HA.

Anyone else fool yourselves into thinking such things?

We Can’t Earn It, Sista!

Like we could ever earn the grace of God?

God tells us in the Bible that there is none who is good, no not one—[including myself—Michelle Hyde].

He tells us that our righteousness is like dirty rags.

He tells us it is by Grace that we are saved, through faith, so that no one may boast.

You see, when we believe we are generally good people, we are lying to ourselves. Flat out lying.

The Missing Piece

We are also depriving ourselves when we tell ourselves these lies.

How are we depriving ourselves? Because we are placing the weight of our redemption on the measure of our own goodness—continually falling short, of course.

There is freedom in recognizing our evil condition. There is freedom in realizing our complete depravity.

There is freedom in recognizing our lack of goodness because instead of trying furiously to maintain the right to grace, we can fall on our face before God & fully accept His free gift, knowing His love is so great that even though we don’t even come close to deserving it—He still offers it to us, even knowing us better than we know ourselves.

A Rocky Road with Zero Marshmallows

I have mentioned before that God has been taking me down a path of learning, to learn to rely on Him more than I rely on myself.

It’s been hard. (Hard is a huge understatement, by the way—imagine instead, me crumpled on the floor in tears some days).

It’s been hard because He has been revealing my own depravity to me. And that’s never fun. He has slowly been revealing my inward, hidden & excused-away SIN.

It’s a comfort to us, to feel like we somehow deserve the grace God offers us & to feel like we can somewhat control each situation on our own, without His help or guidance… But when God takes that lie away, it’s not so fun–trust me.

He has let me wallow in it at times, merely to show me that it’s not my own goodness or strength or wisdom that gives me victory over it—it’s His alone.

On My Own is Not Where I Want to Be

If He left me to myself… I would be just as capable of doing the worst things as anyone else… Things that would ruin me.

I am naturally a sinful person. We all are.

I like to look out for myself first. I like to think I’m great. I like to hope everyone believes I am so, so good.

But the reality is? I am just as depraved as the “worst” of us. And I am just as undeserving as the “worst” of us.

We All Need It

God is revealing to me my inward struggle. He is letting me see the shameful temptations & the awful, selfish attitudes that live in me. He is letting me see the NEED I have for HIS GRACE.

The even more beautiful truth behind this self-revelation is how wrong it is for me to gauge how deserving certain people are of God’s grace compared to others.

I don’t do this consciously, mind you—I am not a heartless, uncaring person—but it’s a natural thing to see certain sins or wrongs & wonder if they could ever submit to the grace of God–or maybe they just deserve it less than others.

But God…

But God does the saving, not us (Thank God!!!), & His redemption & grace covers everything, without discrimination of our past (Again, THANK GOD!).

Take Saul, in the Bible, for instance. He murdered Christians. A LOT of Christians. He was infamous for it & just his name alone could scare people to the core.

But God spoke to Saul, humbled him, & changed the course of history through his life. God gave him a new name—Paul–& Paul became one of the absolute most influential ambassadors of hope to the world.

God Does the Changing in Us

God changes people.

Let me say that again, in case you missed it… GOD. CHANGES. PEOPLE.

Not us. Not our goodness. Not our efforts. GOD’s. HIM, ONLY.

All we are asked to do is to take our sorry state of depravity, bow before His HOLY throne, & pour it all out at His feet.

We don’t have to become perfect first. We don’t have to prove our goodness or worth. We don’t have to offer sacrifices & earn our way into grace….

He Sees Us… All of Us… And He Loves Us

He looks at us. He sees our depravity. He sees the helpless attempts to hide our sin. He has compassion on us. He reaches out His hand & draws us to Himself. He changes us. He saves us. Him.

You see, He created us. He gave us free will to choose Him or reject Him. He never wanted to force us against our will to love or obey Him—that wouldn’t be love. But He knew before He created us, that this would create opportunity for sin—a rejecting of His ways for ours. He knew the hurt this would cause. He knew that we wouldn’t be able to fully ever wash ourselves from that sin & depravity to enter again into His HOLY presence. He knew all of that before He created us.

He knew that we would need a Savior. He knew He would have to send His Son, Jesus, to cover what we could not, in order to pull us back into His HOLY presence.

And guess what? He still created us. He watched us fall. He watched us try & fail at redeeming ourselves. And He sent Jesus to save all who would come asking.

We are lost without Him… Every single one of us.

God is Enough

We have shame.

We have guilt.

We have stains we cannot wash away.

We have hurts.

We have scars.

We have a “ME” we hide away.

But God is enough.

God is enough.

God is ENOUGH to wash it all away.

So, come to Him.

Lay it all before Him.

And let HIM be the Goodness & Redemption that your hungry heart craves.

Lay It All Down

We may be REALLY good at hiding our sin & our depravity—even to ourselves.

But God sees it. He sees it all.

And still He holds out His hand to us, an open invitation for Grace & Redemption. To become His beloved children. To be freed from the chains of our sin & shame. To live in His LOVE.

So, Lovely, take a moment to consider your own depravity.

You don’t have to cover it or hide it, because God already sees it & loves you anyway.

Just come to Him with it all.

Say something like, “God, I can’t. I just can’t. I try so hard to convince myself & others that I am so good, but we both know it’s a lie. I am so selfish, so proud, so undeserving. Please forgive me for my wrong attitudes, my wrong thoughts, my wrong choices, & the wrongs I have done to others whom you also love. Please forgive me. Change me. Help me become the woman you created me to be. Help me see the me You intended me to be. Wash me clean. Change me. Shape me. Forgive me. Be my Lord, my Savior, my Father, my HOLY GOD. Amen!”

That’s all we have to do to receive God’s grace. Lay it all before Him & allow Him to work in & change you into His beautiful vision of you. The old you washed away. The new you just beginning.

God Doesn’t Discriminate

God doesn’t discriminate based on “severity of sin” but rather loves us all indiscriminately.

So, come to Him, depravity & all, & let Him be the change you seek.

Let Him have the GLORY, forever & ever, AMEN.

Shine His Light of HOPE to the world, Lovely—SHINE HOPE.

Coming Next Week

To be honest with you… I don’t know.

I had a plan, but God seems to be washing that away, whether to show me that I need to lean on Him, or whether He has a different plan than I do, I don’t know. But I had nothing to say today, other than a prayer that God would use me as a vessel of hope somehow in the blankness of my mind today, & this is what came of it.

Stay tuned & pray for me. Pray that I don’t hide away from the hard lessons I need to learn. Pray that I don’t put on a façade of perfection, but rather bare my soul & weaknesses to the world, so that others may see His HOPE & not me.

Love you, Lovely!

A Note from Michelle:

If you want to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” & “Hope is Found” pages, 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!!

Weekly Special Spotlight:

Each week, I will feature an item that is changing lives. These pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Willow Necklace

Representing Women Artisans in Haiti!

Wear this hand-rolled clay and paper bead piece as a double strand necklace or detach one strand for a matching bracelet. Accented with micro paper beads.

Artisan Information:

Haiti is home to almost 500,000 orphans. The majority of these orphans have not been orphaned by parental deaths, but by parents who had to give them up simply because they could not afford to feed them. No mother should have to give up her child. Through your purchase, you provide parents with a sustainable income, so they can keep their children with them! Be a part of families stepping into bright futures together!

Purchase this piece and empower a woman in Haiti!

Shop Here, OR, Email me at michelle@michellehydeonline.com, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE, Lovely!