How Rude

People can be so rude sometimes, can’t they? And it can really be so annoying.

Sometimes they even do it on PURPOSE because they want to “stir up stuff” & “make things interesting.” (And sometimes I feel like throat-punching those people for it when I see them enjoying the pain they cause.) Doesn’t happen often, but when it does… oof… LORD help me.

Sometimes people are reckless, careless, thoughtless, distracted, oblivious, rude, unkind, uncaring, etc.

And sometimes I don’t feel very loving in return, when those scenarios present themselves to me.

But, God calls us to something impossible…. To love them. To pray for them. To SERVE them. To not retaliate, (even when our comeback is so good it is SURE to slap them back into their place). (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27-36; 1 Peter 3:9; Romans 12:19)

And This Is REALLY Good News

The good news is, He doesn’t expect that to come naturally to us. He doesn’t expect us to just jump up & say, “time to love them!” He knows more than anyone how hard it is for us to love someone like that, in our humanly fleshly-ness. And we can KNOW we don’t need to try on our own because there’s absolutely nothing we can add to what Jesus gave.

The good news is… He will HELP us to respond rightly—IF we’re willing to submit to His help versus, “Let me handle this, God!”

I don’t know about you, but the “Let me handle this, God!” feeling comes pretty easily for me & I have to be careful to bow that down & instead say, “Okay, You handle this… because if I do it, I know I won’t handle it in a way that You’d like. Lord, please help me.”

So, first step is knowing He can/will help if we submit our way bowed for His help in its place….

Care More About the Person Than the Hurt

Second is something so hard to do sometimes—caring more about the person than the hurt they may have caused you… in other words—loving them the way that Jesus loved us when He silently, willingly condescended Himself on the cross for OUR sins. (Isaiah 53–it is SO hard for me to read this chapter without crying & the prison ministry ladies got to witness this firsthand in my recent lesson about God’s JUSTICE.)

He had full right to leave us to our deserved destination—Hell.

He had full right to say, “well, that’s on them… I told them not to eat of the tree, they did it anyway… I told them right from wrong, they did wrong anyway… I told them how to get clean through sacrificial offerings, they did wrong anyway. That is on them.”

But He didn’t do that, did He? He didn’t say that, did He?

NO—He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place. To SUFFER & die in our place. So that if we trust on HIS sacrifice on OUR behalf, we have the right to Heaven—not even based on our own merit or deserving, but HIS! (John 1:12; Isaiah 53; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17)

Don’t ever try to justify or minimize your wrongs. Don’t try to act like you didn’t need much, just a little push. You were WRETCHED in your sin. HOPELESS. Helpless. You could never pay your debt, or even HOPE to.

So HE paid it.

FOR you.

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow

He left HIS throne in Heaven.

Left HIS impenetrable body for an earthly, fleshy one.

Left HIS Kingdom for a world that despised & rejected Him & did not treat Him with the reverence & humble respect He deserved as the One Who MADE us & this WORLD.

For YOU.

You know, a funny thing happens the longer you’re a Christian (aka Christ-follower)—you become even more humbled by a greater perspective of how undeserving you really are of what Jesus gave for you.

It’s like, early on, it’s easier to sort of justify or sugarcoat with your “good or innocent” intentions. But the longer you follow & submit to Him, the more it becomes visible how completely despicable you really actually are.

I think because you see Him show up for you & remain faithful to you over & over & over again, while you simultaneously see yourself mess it all up over & over & over again.

And yet, the reality of the grace of the cross becomes richer & sweeter & more appreciated each time.

It’s truly so incredibly humbling. The love you feel from Him becomes more obvious & so much more real to you the longer you live submitted to Him.

That Is How We Are to Love Other People in Their Undeserving

I don’t deserve… He gave Himself anyway.

And that is the way we are to love other people. To care more about the person than the hurt.

To realize Jesus paid for them, too. And it was wretched & it was truly awful what they did—but Jesus paid for it, too.

This doesn’t mean you plaster on a fake smile, stuff down your wrath, & PRETEND.

This means admitting ALL the hurt to God, just dumping it all out on Him (He can more than handle whatever you’ve got), cry, bang your fists on the wall, in private, if you need to (just make sure to direct the fists AWAY from the person’s face). But lay it down to Him & say to God something like:

“God, why did they DO that?!? I want to hurt them back! I want them to feel what I feel! I want them to feel sorry & apologize & right their wrong! It hurt so BAD & I am SO angry!!!! But God, please keep me from dishonoring You with my response. Help me to trust You over myself with this because I just want to take care of it how I feel is best, but I know I can’t trust myself to do that without sinning against You in the process, so please give me the grace beyond myself to love them the way that You do, to be an extension of the love You have for them. Empower me to love them on Your behalf & to represent Your grace through Jesus Christ to them—to care more about the person than the hurt. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Let GOD Love Them through You

Loving like Jesus is impossible—because we’re not God-in-flesh.

But the good news is that the Holy Spirit in us, for those who have trusted on Jesus for their sin before God, abides in us & will give us the inner strength, the words, & the grace to respond in a way that honors & pleases God versus satisfying our rightful wrath—IF we’re willing to submit to that help.

The offender may indeed, for sure deserve our wrath… but God calls us to trust the wrath to God & to let Him love them through us, with His help.

It’s not natural & it sure is not easy.

But don’t worry—God doesn’t expect it to come naturally for us—that’s why HE is our supply—if we let Him be in that moment.

So, shine HOPE by learning to care more about the person than the hurt, by submitting your hurts to God for His help in your response, & by thus loving others in the same way that God demonstrated His own love toward us, through JESUS CHRIST His Son.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

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

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for 6.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Cozy Cottage Ornament (NEPAL)

HOLIDAY EDITION – While supplies last! Create safe jobs with fair wages for the women in Nepal who handcraft the Cozy Cottage Ornament through this dignified partnership. Display this darling ornament with intricate details on your Christmas Tree along with all your favorite holiday décor! This ornament features a slit pocket on the back, a convenient way to fit gift cards!

***Purchase this cute handmade ornament, using the “Shop Here” link below, & invest in the lives of women in Nepal for a brighter tomorrow.***

How You Can Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support My Website:

#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!

Where Does Real, Actual Wisdom Come From?

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom….” (Proverbs 9:10a) (emphasis mine)

What does that mean? It means that God knows infinitely more than you do, even about yourself—because He MADE you—so He alone is even the source of true wisdom—NOT us.

Do you care more about honoring GOD? Or yourself? Don’t trust yourself over the God Who made you.

This world is flipping upside down in so many ways & in so much of it, it is because of this ONE verse. People somehow think they can outsmart the very God Who designed them in the first place. As if they know more about the world than the One Who MADE the world.

How foolish!

Believing in Something Doesn’t Make It True…

I can go up to a boat full of holes & BELIEVE in my “heart of hearts” that people just aren’t giving that poor boat a chance & that I BELIEVE in that boat, & that it can do whatever it wants & that if it wants to float & carry us to the other side of the river, then I am going to believe in it, too.

But I can’t BELIEVE something into existence. I can’t manifest reality by believing it hard enough.

I can believe in that little hole-riddled boat all I want, but the fact is that it WILL sink, & if I trust in it… I will also sink.

I can also believe, in my “heart of hearts” that God is not real because “I don’t like the idea of Him or the idea of being accountable to anyone other than myself & what I want to believe…” but believing someone out of existence doesn’t actually believe them out of existence.

I don’t want this mole on my face, so therefore, I am going to choose to believe that it is not actually there so I can feel comfortable with myself & my life. Well, sure, but the mole is still there, isn’t it? (Honestly, personally, I do like my face mole.)

We All Have an Appointment

Fact is, we all have an appointment to keep with God someday. It could be as you’re reading this sentence that you have a heart attack & keel over & BAM, you’re at your appointment like NOW. Could be 50 years… could be tomorrow? But you have an appointment & you will keep it.

Are you ready to stand before the GOD Who MADE you & say, “well, I didn’t like how it felt to believe You, so I didn’t.” Or, “I didn’t want to feel bad about living my way, so I pushed you out of my heart & life & chose to believe I didn’t have to answer to You.”

“Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11) (emphasis mine)

There WILL come a day when you will have to face up to the majesty of God & you WILL have NO choice but to recognize His Kingship because it will be glaringly obviously unavoidable to recognize at that point… will you be ready for that?

Are you ready to say to His face—”I thought I knew better than You”?

With His glory filling every inch of space, you, puny in comparison? Are you ready to say that to His face?

Do You Care More about Honoring GOD? … Or Yourself?

You don’t have to want to believe in Him for Him to be…. You can for sure use the excuse that “Christians spoil Christ-following for you,” but God is not fooled. You cannot get away with blaming others for your rejection of Him.

“All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,/But the Lord weighs the motives.” (Proverbs 16:2) (emphasis mine)

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9) (emphasis mine)

“Would not God find this out?/For He knows the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44:21) (emphasis mine)

Don’t Choose Hell

God doesn’t send anyone to Hell, because He gave His own Son so that despite our wretched undeserving hearts… if we believe on Him, we shall be saved. (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8; John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6)

But if you reject His Son, Jesus Christ, you will have to answer to God at the judgment seat of Christ—the appointment we all will keep—whether we want to or whether we believe it will happen… or not.

Belief does not create or erase reality.

Do you care more about honoring God? Or yourself? Don’t choose hell.

Accepted Jesus but Hiding Sin?

And for those that have trusted Jesus Christ to pay your debt to God that none of us could ever hope to pay on our own… if you are living in a way that dishonors Him… what are you doing?

Imagine with me for a second that you live in a kingdom where you were caught RED-HANDED committing a crime deserving of the death penalty in that kingdom & whether or not you believed the sentencing to be fair, it was so… & you are standing before the King, with guards all around you, no hope for escape, & you plead for mercy.

Imagine with me for a second that the King then looked to His Son, seated on the throne alongside Him & asks His Son to pay your price, to which the Son replies, “Your will be done,” as He steps down from His throne, is beaten, humiliated, & tortured to death right in front of you—for YOUR crime.

Imagine with me for a second… what would you do in response to that gruesome, gracious sacrifice?

Flippantly go live however you darn well please, thankful for a chance to keep doing whatever you were doing just as before?

Or live with a heart overflowing with humbled gratitude? Living to serve that King Who gave you a chance at LIFE, because His Son was willing to die in your place?

Would you live to honor that sacrifice? Or would you live to honor yourself?

If you are living in sin… what are you doing?

He Is GOD… i am not

Remember… the BEGINNING of wisdom comes from the FEAR OF GOD.

AKA an understanding that HE is GOD… & I am NOT.

AKA an understanding that HE made everything… even me… & I did NOT.

AKA an understanding that HE designed it all… I did NOT.

HE existed before time itself began… I did NOT.

HE sees all, knows all, sees every ripple effect, every thought, every intention, every consequence, every everything… & I do NOT.

If you are living in a way that dishonors Him, as if putting your wisdom above God’s… What are you doing?

Turn from Your Sin! Repent! Turn to Your REDEEMER!

Turn from your sin! Repent! Turn to God Who offers you a clean slate of REDEMPTION through the blood of His SON!

You do not deserve it. I do not deserve it.

I cannot earn it. You cannot earn it.

I cannot believe Him away. I cannot manifest a reality that is not reality.

I have an appointment I will keep & I am confident in this–that I live under the righteous goodness of Jesus Christ. Do you? Can you claim this confidence with me? I am righteous ONLY because HIS righteousness covers me.

God Will Prevail

Truth is truth. Fact is fact. God is GOD… whether I WANT to believe in it or not.

Turn your life over to Jesus.

Let Him be GOD in your life.

He will prune you. He will shape you. He will renew you. He will revive you.

But you MUST turn your life over to the One Who gave His life for you.

You must accept the gift extended to you. He won’t force you to take it.

You must choose.

Jesus, Our Savior Was Born to You This Day

Praise God for Jesus, the reason I choose to celebrate Christmas–the coming of my Savior.

Jesus died for you… but He also rose again, victorious over sin & death.

He is not frantic. He is seated. All power, dominion, & authority belong to Him.

And He holds out His offering to you, the one He made… because that’s how much He loves you.

You must choose.

(Read my previous posts on: “Do you know Jesus?” “What’s the big deal about Easter?” & “Why the Gospel Is Such a Big Deal.”)

Shine HOPE by determining to live your life in a way that honors GOD more than it honors YOURSELF.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

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

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for 6.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

December 2024 Hope Mail (INDIA)

FOR A LIMITED TIME – Only available during the month of December! Subscribe today to send or receive a Hope Mail package every month!           

Enjoy free shipping on your December Hope Mail package that includes the beautiful Neela Earrings with matching Neela Bracelet from India and the Merry & Bright Sticker!      

The adorable Neela Earrings are perfect for the winter season with their fun blue beads and gold accents! The matching Neela Bracelet is an impactful addition to your December Hope Mail! Each Neela earring and bracelet is hand-beaded by women in India earning fair wages for their work to be able to send their children to school. Featuring blue faceted beads with gold accent beads throughout, this slip-knot bracelet will elevate your look while creating an impact for women.

(***Purchase this month’s “Hope Mail” using the “Shop Here” link below to empower women in India out of poverty!!***)

How You Can Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support My Website:

#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!

But Is It Enough?

This is a concept I really didn’t understand for most of my life. Having believed on Jesus to pay for my sins since I was 5, I spent most of my life thinking I needed to somehow earn what Jesus did for me—not to save me, but to maybe deserve it or prove I appreciated it enough maybe?

There was a LOT of self-effort & willpower battles to try to force myself into submission to God’s will & way. It was exhausting… I felt like a constant failure at it… & I lived with a lot of shame because I never felt I could quite get it right.

But ever since reading Andrew Murray’s book on Prayer, (linked in the “Recommended by Michelle” BOOKS section of my website), my whole perspective of a life lived well for God has flipped on its head.

1) I Will Never be “Good Enough,” 2) Jesus Paid for That in Full, & 3) God Promises to HELP Me Live for Him

Now I understand the reality three-fold. One, I will never be good enough & I will never measure up & I will never get it right all the time… AND Jesus paid for all of that.

But even more importantly, I learned that God WILL HELP me to live for Him if I but SURRENDER to that help over my own self-efforts & failures.

What a GAME CHANGER! What a LIFE changer!

No longer do I have to live in guilt that I am “not doing it well enough” because it is not at all up to me anyway! I can bow all of my insufficiencies to Him Who MADE me & let His help fill in my gaps instead.

How much PEACE this has brought to my life… How much VICTORY.

All It Takes Is a Willing & Surrendered Heart

Do you realize that if you have trusted on Jesus’ death on the cross & rising again victorious over sin & death (Read more about that, in my previous post: “Have You Met Jesus?”), you don’t have to live for God by your own self-efforts?

All. It. Takes. Is. A. Willing. And. Surrendered-to-Him. Heart.

That is IT.

No more do you have to walk in shame of, “Oh, I have tried SO many times to have quiet time with God & it never works out.”

Never again do you have to live in defeat of, “Oh, I WANT to study His Word & read the Bible, but I always [have a headache, can’t concentrate, get distracted, get bored, etc.].”

You don’t have to give up & say, “I want to serve/give, but I don’t feel I have the means/time to do it.”

If you really do have a willing heart, you also have the GOD ALMIGHTY right there, making His raised-Jesus-from-the-dead POWER available to you!

Your Willingness as Your Offering to Him

You literally just have to take your empty hands full of ONLY willingness, offer it up to Him, & say, “God, please give me what I need to do this thing for You, so I may please & honor You. Supply where I lack.” –And TRUST Him to do JUST THAT.

Do you believe He CAN help you?

Do you believe He has enough POWER to help you?

Do you believe it is really something that HONORS & PLEASES Him?

THEN TRUST HE WILL SUPPLY WHERE YOU FALL SHORT.

Stop living in, “I want to, BUT ______________” mentality & start living in, “I want to, SO, God, this is where I feel insufficient or am struggling, so please help cover that so I may do this thing to please & honor You.”

Less Try, More Trust–Self-Effort Vs. Surrendered to Assured Victory

Abraham was full ready to sacrifice his son Isaac because he trusted God WOULD supply (Genesis 22:1-19)… it even says in another chapter that he understood that even if God had him go through with it, God could raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:17-19), so his trust in God was SOLID regardless of the outcome!

Is yours?

Do you trust Him to supply? Do you believe in less try, more trust? Do you truly believe you need less self-effort & more surrender to His assured victory to do what you feel you can’t?

Are you using it as an excuse not to try because it seems too impossible, too stress-inducing, too much time required, etc.? Or is it really only because you never thought to ask God to fill in where you lack?

What excuses are you maybe using? Where is Satan convincing you not to try because it seems too hard for you to reasonably accomplish?

Shine HOPE by laying down your willingness at the feet of God, asking for His power to cover & fill where you fall short. And trust He will do just that. And KEEP trusting each time you struggle versus giving up with the slightest resistance. Because He CAN. And He WILL.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

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

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for 6.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Kitchen Gift Set (NEPAL + INDIA)

While Supplies Last! Shop to save over $50 on this stunning gift set perfect for the homebody in your life!  

Purchase this artisanal gift set that creates safe jobs for women in India and Nepal. The Kitchen Gift Set pairs the Capri Utensil Set, Villa Spoon Rest, and Sicilian Grove Tea Towel to create a fun fair-trade look perfect for gifting or styling yourself!

(***Purchase this handcrafted set, using the “Shop Here” link below to empower women in Nepal & India out of poverty!***)

How You Can Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support My Website:

#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!

God Is Greater Still

God is so patient with us, isn’t He? And so humble about it.

Of anyone, He alone has full right to be arrogant, & yet… His character can be defined by the purest humility.

How He (Jesus) willingly left the glories of Heaven to be born as a man, in all of our fleshly-ness, & be rejected by those He created… to be beaten & killed by them… to serve them. What a wonderful God we serve.

He loved me when I rejected Him. He died for me while I was still a sinner (Romans 5:8).

And yes, I get that He died many years before I was born, but the fact remains that He did it for me, it was finished & made available to me before I even accepted it.

His love came first.

His Love Secures

And He didn’t stay dead. He rose again, victorious over that sin of mine. He paid in FULL.

Because of that–all of my falling short… I can be assured is paid for already, too.

I miss the mark every day. I fall short every day. I am not unaware of my many shortcomings & even failures.

But He gave His life for that, so I could live in & claim freedom despite my sinful flesh ever-screaming for control in my life.

His love secures.

Keep My Focus

I can’t tell you how often I am tempted to live as pleasing to men (humanity)… to look better according to what they seem to believe I should be like… to fit the mold better.

I will say that even on my darkest days, where heaviness rests on me like a wet, weighted blanket… I can feel God holding my hand in it & through it. I can see He is at work, even though I can’t sometimes see the work. I can feel secure when my life doesn’t feel secure. I can feel grounded when the ground seems to crumble beneath me.

Because my hope is not secured to things going my way, to me feeling emotionally stable, to me feeling like my world is going right.

My hope is secured to the One Who loved me before I knew to love Him.

I Don’t Enjoy Pain, but I Can Rest in the One Who Holds Me through It

Do I selfishly long for the pain to stop on my hard days? Do I selfishly wish I never had to feel weak ever again? Oh, certainly YES!

But I am human. I can expect to feel weak... to come to the end of myself.

But His mercies are new every morning. He keeps showing up. His sufficiency remains when mine depletes.

I want so desperately to rely on my storehouse, my provision, what I can SEE. I want to feel in control.

My Daily Sufficiency–His Mercies Are New Every Morning

And sometimes I feel like the Israelites in the desert, craving to take in more than what God provides each day so I can rely on MYSELF.

But God wants me to see that I don’t need that flimsy hope… That it is just a mirage anyway. That I can’t (& don’t need to) depend on myself as my hope.

His daily bread supplies my need. His new-every-morning mercies supply my need.

I don’t need to feel strong, but to rely on HIS strength to supply my need.

I don’t need to feel liked or approved or seen, but to fix my focus on living to please & honor HIM.

His mercies are new every morning.

A Foggy Brain… But a Sufficient God

Last week, I talked about what I have learned working in prison ministry… how I am on the schedule now to teach this new segment on God’s JUSTICE. (Read that post: “Us vs. Them? What I’ve Learned in Prison Ministry.”)

Well, I have been practicing my lesson (& more importantly, PRAYING over it) since August, when I had the potential to begin teaching. And now it is NOVEMBER. (We have to remain flexible with prison ministry because sometimes they’re all-hands-on-deck & cannot accommodate us coming or weather prevents it, & so on.)

So, lots of months preparing for, praying over, & practicing one lesson… just in case… but when I went to finally teach it this past Thursday, my mind was foggy & tired after a very long & hectic day.

My Preparations Failed Me… But He Didn’t

Worried I couldn’t quite find my words like I had practiced so much already, I wondered how I was going to get through it successfully & was feeling disheartened that my much practice was seeming insufficient in my time of tired brain.

So, I prayed about it. I asked God to tell me what to do… how to get through it. And I also prayed: “God, if part of Your plan is to show me as fumbling & ill-prepared despite my MONTHS of preparation because You want to show Yourself somehow through my weakness… then so be it. Just let me be faithful to Your plan in this, even if it ends up making ME look bad. AMEN.”

I don’t know how it appeared to them, but to me, my brain fog seemed to get in the way. And that’s okay. God doesn’t need me to be perfect. He needs me to show up & do my best & let HIM take care of the rest.

Because really, it’s not about ME looking good—but about bringing HIM glory.

Let Him be Seen in Your Weakness

And sometimes, in our weakness, others can see—“oh, maybe her life isn’t all perfect & maybe she’s not doing this because she’s so great at it… maybe she chose to do this not for THOSE reasons but because this is really important to her to share about this God… this JESUS.”

I don’t know… I’m just speculating… but I know that even if I don’t come off as all that great… my job is not to come off as all that great anyway. My job is to show how great HE is… not me.

His love for them matters more than how good I look telling them about it.

I want to be willing to look a fool, to show Him as my supply, as my sufficiency, as my HOPE. To show it’s all Him.

Do You Know JESUS? Do You Promote Him or Yourself as Your Sufficiency with Your Actions?

Where in your life are you desperately feeling the need to LOOK LIKE you have it all together? To LOOK LIKE your life is swell at all times versus promoting God as your sufficiency in your lack? To rely on YOUR storehouse versus God’s provision?

And do you know Jesus? Because He is the key. God says, in the Bible, that Jesus is THE way, THE truth, & THE life… & that NO ONE comes to God except through HIM (John 14:6).

Are you praying & feeling unheard? Are you wanting peace that never comes? Are you wishing you felt hope secured but your life always feels unsteady? You need to know Jesus. He is the KEY.

He ALONE can make you right with God because He ALONE can pay your debt for your shortcomings before God. Do you know Jesus? Do you promote HIM as your hope?

Shine HOPE by being willing to look a fool for Him… by showing up & pointing to Him, even if you don’t feel you look your best… by letting His glory shine through the cracks of your imperfections… & by allowing Him to be your daily sufficiency in all things.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

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

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for 6.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

White Doodle Ornament (NEPAL)

HOLIDAY EDITION – While supplies last–(also available in red & black doggos)! Create safe jobs with fair wages for the women in Nepal who handcraft the White Doodle Ornament through this dignified partnership. Adorn your Christmas tree with an adorable White Doodle Pup crafted using 100% wool and traditional wool crafting techniques that have been passed down for generations.

(***Purchase this cute handmade ornament, using the “Shop Here” link below & empower women in Nepal out of poverty!***) 

How You Can Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support My Website:

#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!

I Am Not Going to Pretty Up the Truth

Now, this week’s topic may be off-putting to some of you. Part of it may even scare some of you, but I have never been one to try to pretty up something ugly for the sake of more “likes”… & today is no exception.

I have not had suicidal thoughts (for many years now, at least), but I have been thinking a lot about death. Maybe you remember my blog post “When Life Hits Hard, I Just Want Heaven.” That is in the same vein of where I am going with this today.

You see, I have come to a point where, without overanalyzing or freaking out first or anything… my first, initial gut reaction to certain hard situations has been: “I wish I could die. I am too weak for this world. I just want to die & go to heaven, so I don’t ever have to hurt again.”

It scares me sometimes when this is the first, gut reaction to something hard, & yet, there it is. I must point out that it usually only lasts a few moments & is gone & that while it can happen several times in a day to maybe once every other day, it is not continual. (I am not feeling that way right now, for example–nor has it happened yet today.) It also goes completely against my reasoning that it’s “not really even that bad.”

Have you ever felt that way? That the hurts of life just feel unbearable in some moments?

Sometimes Life Is Hard

Now, when I take the time to dissect this impulsive, immediate response, I can see that this is most likely the result of years & years of little hurts that were never dealt with–that became a part of my personal identity… but none of that backstory explanation comes up when that little thought pops up in my head at this point—just: “I wish I could just be dead already.”

If you’re anything like my husband, this sounds beyond too morbid a conversation, & I get that. I’m sorry.

But I know I am not the only one out there that has this feeling on occasion & maybe yours has already shifted to suicidal thoughts or planning. I sometimes honestly can understand why. When that thought assaults me, all I can think sometimes is: “I can see why someone would commit suicide. If I left this unchecked or had many times been assaulted by this thought in one day, I can see why someone would want to end it.” That’s what Satan wants us to hear.

Life is hard sometimes.

Sometimes the Little Things Can Hurt a Whole Lot

And it doesn’t always have to be that someone died or you’ve been assaulted… or experienced abuse.

Sometimes even the small stuff can seem overwhelming if it piles on enough.

I think the little things can be so rough because it can seem like, logically, they should really be no big deal & because you’re not dumb or clueless, you CAN recognize that quite clearly while still feeling as if your heart is being torn to shreds. This just makes you feel even weaker, like you can’t even handle the SMALL hurts. Like, wow… pathetic. That’s how I feel sometimes about it anyways.

It doesn’t help when people don’t get it because it clearly does not make sense, even to you, or when they fail to show any compassion. But you feel like you HAVE to be able to explain it or people just think you’re dramatic & out for attention or just straight up pathetic & annoying… the icing on the already awful cake. Like, it somehow seems easy &/or manageable to everyone else, but you can’t seem to handle it.

Because of these reasons & more, small things can hit pretty hard sometimes.

“How It All Began…”

I have been talking a lot about the past 12 years & how my insecurities followed me into marriage. Then, I lost my budding career & all I had was me feeling like a terrible housewife PLUS my pre-existing insecurities because I just had no clue where to start to improve. I felt like a failure all around. And then my husband was working overtime so much I barely saw him & then his capacity for my struggles was low, so I felt like I had to stuff it & hide it & pretend so that I wouldn’t add fuel to the “me being his wife as a huge mistake” idea.

“My struggles are my own. Keep it to myself. No one wants to hear them. I am a burden. I am a disappointment. I am too much.” -the script that ran through my brain.

“How It Continued…”

Then, I had all of these opinions from a large group of people singing the same tune suggesting the fact that I didn’t even fit in as a Christian. I felt like “I was never quite good enough. Never quite measured up. I was alone. I had nobody who believed in me–as if my faith was always in question because I didn’t do things the same way they did them.”

I began to question everything about myself as a “not good enough” Christian who never seemed to get it quite right.

“How It All Blew up in My Face…”

Then, recently, I had an unprecedented misunderstanding upon misunderstanding upon misunderstanding that never was allowed space for reconciliation or clarification. It seemed to become who I was viewed to be, as if I was now the “What now?” girl. “Like I am the problem. Like I am a headache. Like people just want me to keep it to myself & shut up already.” I know they may not think that (even to themselves), but that’s how it began to feel—like every time I spoke up, the subconscious reaction to me was: “What now?”

Well, when patterns emerge, it’s easy to think, “well, I was once capable & praised & acknowledged & appreciated before… but something about ME has changed apparently, because I can’t seem to please ANYONE doing the same thing as before. Was the previous a lie? Am I really this awful & annoying? Can I really not seem to ever get anything right anymore?”

Like: “I must be the problem.”

Everything piled on from the previous until I felt like I never seemed to be quite what people wanted me to be… like I was never quite enough for them… for anyone… like I was TOO MUCH to handle.

But Let’s Take a Closer Look

Now, if I take a closer look at those situations:

1. The marriage scenario was just my insecurities. Hardly anyone just starts out knowing exactly how to keep house & all that comes with that. It takes learning & growing. It takes grace.
2. The judging my faith based on following different manmade rules is just a difference in upbringing & views. It doesn’t mean I am not a “real” Christian because I listen to non-hymn worship music or wear shorts. It’s just a difference in opinion. Everyone is different. We’re all accountable to the same God & making sure we’re right with Him versus acting in rebellion is what matters–He is a faithful & wise Guide.
3. The misunderstandings are just that—misunderstandings. Does it hurt not to be sought to be understood? Sure. Does it define who I am based on their opinion of me? No, it doesn’t. I am still the same me, even if someone doesn’t see it or want to see it.

What am I Supposed to Do?

I am responsible to just try my best, one step at a time.

1. Where I see personal weaknesses as a wife, I will pray about it & let God grow & guide me to improve. Giving grace.
2. Where I see weaknesses or convictions in how my faith is lived out, I will pray about it & let God grow & guide me to improve. Giving grace.
3. Where others misunderstand me & refuse to change their view, I am just responsible to still be kind, to pray for them, & to still be a help to them, not holding their possible opinion of me against them. Giving grace.

Jesus Is Enough… When Sometimes I Think about Dying

And when that little thought washes in over me: “I wish I was just dead already. I am too weak to handle this hurt. I just want to be done with it & go to heaven already so I don’t have to feel this ever again,” I need to remember not to let any of that wash out what I know to be true:

I AM weak. I DON’T have it all together. I DON’T do everything perfectly. I DO make mistakes. I STILL have TONS more growing to do. I WILL be misunderstood sometimes.

But NONE of that changes the fact that JESUS covers ALL of it. GOD is strong when I am not. GOD has it all together. GOD is perfection & can help me every step of the way. GOD grows & shapes me as I surrender more of myself to Him for pruning. GOD knows ME & gave His Son, JESUS to die on my behalf so that I can be His daughter—a daughter of the true & holy & perfect KING.

No matter what anyone may think of me—the TRUTH remains–I am HIS.

Let yourself be imperfect. Give grace. Trust in Jesus to wash out the lies you let slip in & assault you. Believe in Truth. And SHINE HOPE.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

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

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

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

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Silver Bow Necklace (INDIA)

The Silver Bow Necklace creates safe jobs for women ending poverty cycles in India and creating the opportunity for them to earn a dignified income. This elegant necklace features a dainty silver bow on a simple chain. The Silver Bow Necklace is perfect for daily wear or paired with other ethical styles for a layered look.

***Purchase this necklace using the Shop Here” link below to help empower women in India out of poverty!!***

How You Can Help the Artisans & Help Financially Support My Website:

#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!

Will You Compromise Truth for Comfort?

Truth offends people.

Why? Because we often want to believe our own version to be the truth… squirming at the idea of submitting to someone else’s ideas of truth when it conflicts with what we believe (or want to believe) to be true. Or am I the only one?

And I’m pretty sure that has always been the case. I mean, look at how a lot of the authors of the Bible died… I’ll give you a hint—not old age nor medical issues/natural causes.

Truth rocks the boat. Truth challenges personal beliefs. Truth demands objectivity to replace subjectivity. Truth is singular & clear, versus muddied & varied. Truth can make you feel very much uncomfortable.

But we need it, don’t we?

Where Do We Draw the Line on Which Truth Is “Worth It”?

If a friend, for instance, knew from personal experience, that a café uses expired products that frequently make people sick for days & that friend just sat quietly, sipping on their untainted tea while they watched you consume said dangerous food or beverage—all in the name of letting you “have your truth” because you didn’t want to believe her— versus slapping that drink out of your hand… knowing you may have to be hospitalized for believing awry… would you consider that to be a good friend? I certainly wouldn’t.

The truth was still the truth. That drink would certainly make you incredibly ill, whether it seemed likely to you or not… whether or not it was a convenient truth. Truth is truth.

That is why we must share the truth. Because God knows everything, has perfect wisdom to use that knowledge perfectly… & we do not. And because we DO care about the people around us, whether they believe it or not… we must be willing to smack that dangerous drink out of their hand, if needed.

If We Water Down Truth & People Come Looking for Truth… They Won’t Find It

When I started my blog journey SIX years ago (how has it already been that long?!), I tried to write palatable stuff. I wanted to be “approachable” or “relatable” or not come off as some know-it-all, self-righteous person who says, “MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY.” I wanted to be likeable. I wanted to be liked. I “wanted more readers so I could help more people.”

But God got my attention pretty quickly with a truth bomb that washed over my heart on more than one occasion: “If you aren’t clear in telling the truth… what is the point of your blog? Those looking for the truth won’t find it & those who don’t care still won’t care.”

The message was received loud & clear—the truth may offend people, but people who are seeking the truth won’t find it here if I am not willing to be bold enough to share it.

Do You Believe God Means What He Says?

If we really believe God’s Word is TRUTH, we ought to want to share it. When culture & trends & everything around us is constantly shifting & changing, we crave wanting to feel like something in our life is steady & sure... that there is something out there that we KNOW we can always count on & be sure of. We want to know what really is true.

Bible teaching should not be watered down. We must not sugarcoat theology.

People killed truth-speakers talked about in the Bible, but said truth-speakers still found it worthy enough to share God’s Truth for the sake of anyone willing to accept it–even if their sharing it meant their DEATH.

Paul Was Ready to Die for the Sake of TRUTH

In fact, we even hear in the story told of Paul, that Paul understood that if God was calling him to it, God had a reason & that death was a small price to pay to share the truth of Jesus.

“Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:12-13)

Do we try to market God’s Word in a palatable way? Do we try to sugarcoat it to make it more appealing & relatable to the masses? Do we compromise the power of truth by trying to make more people want it?

God doesn’t need our help better marketing His Word. His Truth is sufficient as is.

Will it offend people? Yes, probably so. Will it make them mad? Quite possibly, yes. But is it worth sharing the Word of God (Truth) AS IS, trusting in the power of the TRUTH? YES, SO MUCH YES.

We Must Always Include Grace

Now, let’s take a step back & consider that the HOW is still very much important… but NOT in the sense of trying to make it more appealing.

Truth mixed with a healthy dose of GRACE is very much necessary. Truth as TRUTH, but with a healthy dose of JESUS thrown in there.

I understand it is a delicate balance. Lean too much on truth & you have legalistic, ever-beating-themselves-up Christians who struggle with self-righteousness. Lean too much on GRACE & you have those who brush off truth like it’s just a little extra flavor “if you want it.”

How Would You Respond?

I like to think of it like this:

Imagine living in a town where perfection is the only way to survive. But no one is perfect. So, people try to hide it… they try to pretend… they try to be as “good” as they can… but whenever they come before the King, He seems to see straight through you… & one by one, people fail & are faced with the death penalty for their crimes. But then, the King does something quite strange. He offers up His Son to take on the punishment for YOUR crimes. And the Son ACCEPTS this WILLINGLY, despite how severely agonizing & painful the due punishment is expected to be. And there, you watch, as this Son suffers on your behalf & dies to cover the debt that YOU owed the King. You drop to the floor in sobs. You just watched someone die for you to pay your debt so that you could live. And now the King says ALL your wrongs are forgiven you: past, present, AND future… “go & sin no more.” Do you go on living how you want? Or do you live every day in remembrance of this Son Who gave everything so that you could live shame-free?

How would you choose to live in response to His sacrifice on your behalf? Guess what? That’s what Jesus did for us. (Isaiah 53)

Trust God More Than You Trust Yourself

Knowing that God sees what you don’t see… that God is God & you are not… & understanding that this reality is the BEGINNING of wisdom. (Proverbs 9:10)

You are paid in full, but now with the clear realization that the paid debt came with a cost—And shame on us if we ever disregard or minimize this cost that Jesus paid so that we can live it up however we want, in opposition to & disregard for GOD’s TRUTH.

When God tells us TRUTH, it is not to just lord over us like some dictator sick with power, wanting you to submit so that He can feel “powerful.” He already knows He IS powerful & sent Jesus to pay for where you didn’t measure up… so clearly it isn’t for such reasons.

No. God knows about that “beverage in your hand that will make you incredibly ill” that is ready to hurt you beyond what you believe or understand… & with His TRUTH, He is willing to slap that cup right out of your hand. God sees what we can’t. God knows what we don’t know.

His TRUTH is not opinion or “His side.” It’s all based on His GOD-ness. He doesn’t have to guess. He doesn’t have to hope He’s right—He knows.

Truth Unashamed

And shame on us if we ever think we need to “better market” the Word of God FOR Him.

If people came to you looking for life-giving truth… would they find it?

Or would you craving to be palatable leave them still searching & further placated to live as they please, ever-numbing their desire to know actual, real TRUTH?

Or do you unashamedly share truth, but forget to mention that Jesus already paid in full for their inability to ever measure up to complete perfection? GRACE.

TRUTH plus GRACE. Don’t ever neglect or water-down one to promote the other.

Dilute truth & the weight of grace (& Jesus’ sacrifice) is minimized.

Minimize grace & truth seems an unbearable burden.

You must have them together—ALWAYS.

Shine HOPE by living truth unashamed… by trusting God above yourself… & by never forgetting to pour it all over with an abundance of grace that Jesus gave His life (& rose victorious over it) to provide for us. Truth unashamed.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

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

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

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

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

The Elva Rose Bracelet (EAST ASIA)

The Elva Rose Bracelet is helping women leave brothels in East Asia! The multicolored jasper stone beaded bracelet includes square 18k gold-plated accent beads and one round gold bead for a stunning look! Easy to dress up or down for daily wear, the Elva Rose Bracelet is the perfect autumn-toned bracelet to add to your bracelet stack.

***Purchase the Elva Rose Bracelet, using the “Shop Here” link below, to create jobs supporting sex-trafficking survivors in East Asia with safe housing, health care, trauma counseling, job skills training, and dignified income.***

How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:

#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!

Recap Review

Last week, I introduced the topic of reviewing the “armor of God,” as outlined in Ephesians 6…. How this isn’t just some “Christian-y” thing we say or quote… it is actual armor that is actually useful in protecting us & keeping us standing firm when life turns to chaos around us.

We NEED it. To review last week’s pieces: the belt of truth (growing your knowledge base of Truth from the only One Who truly has the right to determine what Truth is—the God Who made us all, by getting to know His Word to us—the Bible), the breastplate of righteousness (doing what His truth says, even when it doesn’t make sense to us, protecting ourselves from the destruction that comes naturally as a result of doing it our way instead), & the shoes of the gospel (good news) of peace (not living in anxiety-driven thought control, but moving forward with the understanding of all God gave through His power, Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins, & the Holy Spirit’s wisdom, guidance, & strength)….

To catch up fully, read last week’s post: “What Good Is the Armor of God? (Part 1/2).”

Let’s continue with the remaining pieces of this armor that God empowers & supplies.

Blocking Attacks by Trusting God Can Where I Can’t

“…above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” (Ephesians 6:16)

This shield of faith is amazing, because it’s not how big your faith is, but how big your God is. Figuratively holding up this shield to protect you, as if saying internally, “My God is bigger than this! My God is stronger than this! My God is ABLE!”

Remember, when the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith, He reminded them that even the teensiest amount of faith can make miracles happen… because it is not reliant on how strongly you believe, but rather how WHOLLY you believe. (Luke 17:5-6)

Are you trusting Him + _____________________? Or do you put your whole stock wholly in Him as your true & only source? GOD ALMIGHTY?

Shaking & All… Hold Up That Shield!

It’s a faith that even says, “God, I don’t understand! God, this hurts! God, I want this to stop! But I know You are GOD & I am NOT, so help me to trust YOU more than what I SEE or FEEL.”

HOLD UP THAT SHIELD! Block those fiery arrows that satan tries to attack & hurt you with. HOLD UP THAT SHIELD!

“God, I don’t understand this, but I know You DO!” “God, this hurts, but I KNOW You have me!” “God, this is hard, but I know You will help me!” “God, I don’t know what to do next, but I know YOU do!”

Hold up that shield.

Remember That Heaven Awaits

“… And take the helmet of salvation…” (Ephesians 6:17a)

And sister, when the battle just seems to be going south FAST, like ALL HOPE IS GONE… you remember your helmet of salvation to protect your thoughts from despair… remembering that even if the world collapses… even if evil seems to win… HEAVEN awaits you if you have put your trust in JESUS CHRIST to pay for your sins. (Read previous posts: “The Gospel Changes Everything” & “Why the Gospel Is Such a Big Deal.”)

Whom He sets free is free indeed! (John 8:36)

We are no longer slaves to sin. We are no longer at the mercy of this sinful world. We have JESUS Who paid our debts! Heaven awaits!

No matter how hard life may seem to get on this earth… heaven awaits.

The Spirit Helps Us Fight Back!

“… and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;…” (Ephesians 6:17b)

I can’t tell you how many times I have prayed about something & immediately a random verse from the Bible just floats across my mind in direct answer to my question… or when answering someone else’s questions directed at me.

I have been a Christian for a pretty long time—35 years… & while I will always have a lot left to learn, I have been studying & learning from & reading my Bible for a very long time, so my sword is pretty strong & ready (while it can always improve).

But, if you are a new Christian, it is not too late to learn (even if you’re not new!). And the time to learn is now… so that when life throws something at you out of left field, you can hold that sword up & the truth will be at the ready to combat it.

Make sure your sword is sharp & ready to swing.

Armor OF God–Prayer & Dependence on Him Is Necessary

Keep in mind… this is the armor OF God… Not of me… Not of you… of HIM. He is the power behind it. Knowing HIS Truth… Living as HE says… Resting in HIM… Trusting in HIM… Remembering HIS gift of grace… Relying on HIS Truth. HE IS THE POWER BEHIND THE ARMOR OF GOD… NOT YOU.

Just as Priscilla Shirer repeatedly emphasizes the role that prayer has on empowering all parts of God’s armor supplied for us… so we ought to pray. (Find the link to the referenced “Armor of God” study by Priscilla Shirer, along with other recommendations that have greatly impacted my life on my Recommendations tab.)

“… praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—” (Ephesians 6:18)

We need God through all of these pieces. He is the One Who gives each of these pieces their strength & power—not us. So—PRAY.

I Need Your Prayers

And, just as this letter to the Ephesian churches ends, I urge you with the same plea….

“… and [pray] for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:19-20)

I may not be in physical chains, but if I am not careful, fleshly chains are quick to try to hold me down… discouragement… feeling alone… apathy… distractions… hurts….

Pray for me as God brings me to your mind. Whenever a person chooses to step forward in faith, proclaiming Truth & pointing to Jesus as our hope… Satan comes at the ready to knock down & keep silent.

So, PRAY… please.

And Shine HOPE by knowing Him more… obeying Him more… resting in Him more… trusting Him more… remembering His gift of salvation more… letting His Truth fight for you more… & by praying more, putting on that Armor of GOD!

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

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

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

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

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Elva Scarf (INDIA)

This rust colored Elva Scarf includes a screen-printed leaf design on cotton fabric. Each lightweight flowing scarf is finished on each end with a light, feminine fringe. This Artisan-made scarf is a classic wardrobe favorite with a modern design.

***Purchase this beautifully handcrafted Elva Scarf with the “shop here” link below to help create safe jobs with fair wages in areas of extreme poverty in India!***

How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:

#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!

Is It Just Some Christian-y Thing We Say?

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11)

Especially if you have grown up going to church or around those who do, you may have heard something about the “armor of God,” mentioned in Ephesians 6.

What does that mean to you? Is it just some Christian-y, good-sounding thing you just say because it’s in the Bible? Is it something you understand? Is it something you practice—the “putting on” of the armor of God?

It Doesn’t Really Carry the Same Weight I Think It Was Meant To

I’ll be honest—I thought the “armor of God” was just some nice-sounding Christian-y thing in the Bible for a long time, but I didn’t really understand what it meant practically-speaking.

One book that really helped me understand it a little more clearly & practically was Priscilla Shirer’s book “Armor of God,” which encourages you to pray through each piece & to pray over where you may have holes that need patching with God’s truth. (*Alphabetically, it is the first suggested Bible Study of mine on the Resources & Recommendations tab of my website. Find it, here.*) Definitely recommend this one for a deeper look into this passage of the Bible.

I know it’s a good reminder for me to talk through each piece, because it can be easy for me to not consciously, intentionally put on that armor, so let’s talk it through, shall we? Because it really is of utmost importance in the life of every follower of Jesus.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:12-13)

Truth… How Can We KNOW It?

“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth….” (Ephesians 6:14a)

How is your knowledge base of TRUTH?

Well, first we must determine Who determines TRUTH. The WORLD? Or, the God Who MADE the world? (Psalm 146:5-6) <– (*Fun fact, those verses not only mention God as Creator of Heaven & earth & all that is in them… but also His TRUTH. Totally not planned, but it’s the verse God brought to mind, so there you have it!*)

God is our Creator. He determines what is true. No one else.

I can believe otherwise. I can believe what I want. I can believe what makes sense to ME… but ONLY He can determine what is actual TRUTH.

And where do we find or figure out what GOD says is truth? The Bible—the Word of God.

How Are We Actively Nourishing Our Knowledge of Truth?

Did you know that every single day, you are exposed to countless other worldviews that are oftentimes contrary to what God says (ie television shows, movies, music, other people, even other CHRISTIANS)? If you are not regularly, daily feeding your mind & heart with TRUTH, you WILL STILL automatically be fed by what the world determines as truth.

Which outweighs the other for you?

Did you catch my mention of other Christians in that list above? Why would I include THEM? Because we all grow up in the same world as everyone else & can oftentimes adapt to what we see around us, not questioning whether or not God would agree. Everything MUST be checked against the Word of God—the Bible.

Every worldview, every opinion, every perspective… it must be filtered by TRUTH.

Truth holds us together & steadies us in a constantly shifting world. We don’t have to get tossed around by ever-changing beliefs. We can hold together with truth that goes above & beyond us—the Word of God—TRUTH.

God provides us with the truth, but it’s up to us to get to know it…. So… are you getting to know it?

What Is a “Breastplate of Righteousness”?

“… having put on the breastplate of righteousness….” (Ephesians 6:14b)

The breastplate is what covers your vital organs. You miss out on this piece of physical armor & you are an easy target to take out on the battlefield… so what does it mean to have a “breastplate of righteousness”? How is righteousness supposed to protect me where I am most vulnerable?

Well, I think it’s interesting that God mentions this piece of armor in the same sentence as the “belt of truth,” because it’s not enough to KNOW the truth… we have to live ACCORDING to the truth that we know in order to protect us!

Righteousness essentially just means living rightly… living the way God says we ought to live… & we have to know His truth in order to do this well, don’t we? We can’t do what we don’t even know we ought to do.

How Does It Protect Us, as a Physical Breastplate Would?

How does doing things God’s way protect us like a breastplate of armor protects our vital organs?

Well, when we live contrary to God’s truth… OUR way versus HIS way… we are honestly setting our course for destruction.

It’s like God knows the stove is hot, but it’s not red & looks just fine to us, so we determine we’re just going to touch it anyway, even though He tells us not to…. What happens? We get burned.

God KNOWS. He doesn’t have to guess because He KNOWS. HIS truth IS truth.

When we neglect this piece of armor, aka determining to do life our way instead of His way, we’re leaving ourselves open & vulnerable to Satan’s attacks of deception that lead to our destruction.

We must protect ourselves by choosing to do what God says is right, even when it is hard to do so & especially when it makes zero sense to us.

Wisdom… From Letting God be GOD in Your Life

The Bible tells us that the fear of God is the BEGINNING of wisdom, because it’s basically an understanding of, “well… God is GOD… & I am NOT.” Do you make your choices that way? Do you protect yourself by obeying what God says over what you believe?

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

Do you let God be GOD in your life? Do you live the way HE says? Or are you vulnerable to attack… do you need to put your “breastplate of righteousness” on & start living that way, now?

The Good News of PEACE

“…and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace….” (Ephesians 6:15)

Because of what Jesus did on that cross… we can move forward in life with PEACE. (Isaiah 53)

This world is riddled with anxiety. So many decisions, or avoidance of decisions, are led by anxiety. I am no exception.

But God has been getting my attention on this one… that I am literally allowing THOUGHTS to CONTROL my LIFE. THOUGHTS! Like, I think something, freak out, & become completely paralyzed because of just thoughts.

How silly & insane that sounds when I break it down that way. My anxiety is my perpetuated thoughts that have perpetually been reinforced by more thoughts & have thus led me to sometimes existing in crippling anxiety. THOUGHTS did this to me.

Where is this PEACE & confidence that God promises… to be “more than conquerors, in Christ”? Where is THAT in the average Christian life? (Romans 8:31-39)

How Can We Move Forward with the Good News of PEACE?

We can move forward knowing God is in control–not us. Knowing Jesus paid our debt–not us. Knowing the Holy Spirit will give us wisdom & strength.

We can move forward in this life… READY… with PEACE as our sure footing.

Do you ever stop to take those mean, intrusive, controlling thoughts CAPTIVE? (2 Corinthians 10:5) MAKING them obedient to Christ? TAKING that belt of truth seriously? Take back ground! Retrain your thoughts to look to Him versus looking around you.

Put on the Full Armor of God

I will leave it there for this week… we’ll finish up the remaining armor pieces next week… but let’s take this week to think how we can be feeding ourselves intentionally & regularly with TRUTH to keep us together with the “belt of truth”… covering the “vital organs” of our soul by living in a God-glorifying/God-honoring way with the “breastplate of righteousness,” & moving forward with the good news of PEACE to give us sure footing in a world plagued by anxiety.

Shine HOPE by putting on these armor pieces EVERY day, so that we can be ready when the hardships of life slap us out of nowhere, or when Satan comes a knocking with deceptive-led paths to destruction, so that, having done all… we can STAND.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

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

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

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

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

The Everyday Minimalist Earrings–Golden (INDIA)

LIMITED EDITION – Available While Supplies Last! The stunning, hammered drop earrings are the perfect fair-trade fashion statement! Each gold-tone Everyday Minimalist Earring features multiple shapes – a semi-circle, small circle, and oblong drop shape to create the beautiful dangle earring!

***Purchase these earrings using the link below to help create safe jobs for women in areas of extreme poverty in India!*** 

How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:

#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!

Always the Romantic

I enjoy watching quippy romantic comedies & classic animated princess movies. I was always a sucker for a good love story & I couldn’t wait to have one of my own. I was always a romantic with my rosy glasses & dreams of the married life… dreams of feeling loved & accepted by a guy who was head over heels in love with me.

But something I fear has happened in a culture saturated with this genre of movies—we almost subconsciously believe that the “happily ever after” implies that once you find your “prince charming” & once you work through your struggles or whatever the specific trial is in the storyline of your relationship, all’s good from here on out as you enjoy forever wedded bliss.

And then sitcoms go & show marriage to be a joke almost, like misery is just an expectation, divorce is inevitable, & there is absolutely no way to feel satisfied & happy in marriage. And a sex life? Ha. Forget it, right?

So there becomes this conflict between expecting that once you work through your differences, everything should go perfectly, & that when it inevitably doesn’t, well, “that’s just marriage for ya.”

We Are Complex People

I talked on social media yesterday about how complex we are as people & how it’s often that we like to label people, even subconsciously as: “a nice guy/girl,” “a rude person,” “an angry person,” “an annoying person,” etc. because it just helps us in quickly determining whether we like or dislike, trust or distrust someone… a way we protect ourselves instinctively.

But I go through seasons where you’d probably feel like warning others about me: “she complains ALL THE TIME,” “she gave into temptation & dishonored God,” “she seems to be struggling all the time, she’s a mess,” “she overshares,” “she’s awkward.”

I have seasons where I am moody & selfish & just want to take care of me first. I have seasons where I doubt God’s way & choose my own. I have seasons where I feel all hope is lost. I have seasons where I trust in the blessings given to me by God more than the God Who gave me those blessings. I have seasons where I am giving & kind. I have seasons where I am courageous & confident.

I can’t be summed up by a simplistic generalization.

Humans Choose Wrongly Sometimes

I don’t stop being a flawed human with a sinful human nature that wars with my spirit when I accept Jesus’ payment for my sins on the cross. I don’t become perfect.

I still have to choose to submit to the work & leading of the Holy Spirit in my life.

Just like Job, as he questioned God in his deep pain & tragedy.

Just like Jonah as he ran away from God’s directions.

Just like Abraham, as he listened to his wife’s terrible plan to “help” God fulfill His promise to them for a child.

Just like David as he didn’t avert his gaze but gave into sexual temptation & then followed it through by having the woman’s husband killed to cover it up.

I am still human. I am saved from my sin, guaranteed to go to heaven… but I still require His DAILY grace & to DAILY submit to HIS leading, wisdom, & strength in my own humanness.

Well, guys… the same is true in marriage.

You Married Another Human… Of Course There Will be Struggles

If you feel frustrated with your spouse, you are far from alone in that, because you, my dear… married another human being.

Just like me, when I can be a grump. I can be selfish & self-centered. I can be a complainer. I can be tempted to throw in the towel & just give up. I can cry & struggle a lot sometimes & seem like a huge burden. I can struggle with anger & resentment. I can choose to sin by denying God’s promised way out.

I am a lot. And so are we all at times, if we’re willing to be honest with ourselves.

That is why we can understand how it is such an extremely undeserved blessing of what Jesus did on that cross for us, right?

That is why marriage is so hard in some seasons. Especially when we fixate on what frustrates us rather than pray/extend grace. (Grace, by definition, is undeserved.)

The Necessity of Building a Marriage upon GRACE

Giving grace is absolutely a necessity in marriage. But giving grace is also one of the hardest things in the world to extend to another person sometimes. Jesus gave His life to give us grace.

Habits may annoy you. Seeming lackadaisical about something that means so incredibly much to you can frustrate the snot out of you. Grumpy moods or bad attitudes, especially when you have a headache or are having a bad day yourself can make you want to throw down.

We see the worst of each other. We see the weaknesses, the failures, the bad habits, the lazy days, the lack. We see their humanity better than anyone else. Friction is imminent.

That is why it is so vital that we take all of those things, whenever they may arise, & bow them to Jesus… asking God to give you the perspective & strength & peace to extend grace… to bring healing to your heart where sometimes it feels impossible… & by refusing to feed your desire to fuel the fire you feel is so rightfully needing to be fueled in that moment. GRACE.

You Don’t Struggle Alone–Looking to God in Your Marriage

Don’t let Satan trick you into believing your marriage is beyond saving because of these things… that the annoying habits are just “too much,” or that you can’t get past them… or that either divorce or unhappiness is inevitable in every marriage… that “it will be different” in a new marriage….

But also, don’t let Satan trick you into believing that marriage does not require much grace all along the way. Much prayer & submission to God to be the glue & the bridge when rifts threaten to pull you apart for good.

God CAN where you can’t. God CAN do the impossible. Dare to try Him on that. Dare to trust Him more than you trust yourself.

Shine HOPE by giving your spouse grace upon grace & by always remembering to turn to God as your daily hope, wisdom, & strength to hold your marriage together strong & to continue growing your marriage into a better physical representation of God’s great & undying love & grace for us, through Jesus Christ.

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!

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

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

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

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Noa Marquise Set (INDIA)

Bundle and Save – Available while supplies last! This beautiful necklace set includes the Noa Necklace and the Chery Marquise Necklace to create a stunning layered look. Each necklace is made by women earning a dignified income in India.

***Purchase the Noa Marquise Set to create safe jobs for women ending poverty cycles in India.***

How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:

#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.

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

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

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week!