Choose JOY!

 

***Choose Joy ***by Michelle.  The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength! Especially in this battle against forces, Armies of Darkness void of the Love, AND POWER of God. Orgs, trolls, snakes, vipers, asp,  principalities, demonic oppression, wizards, witches, sorcerers! 

  PG here, Mom Spot On! It isn't me but sin that dwells within me. Oh wretched man that I am who will deliver me from junk garbage in my mind? Soul? If I am lead by the Spirit of God that also dwells with in me, God will deliver me, clean up my mind, then I will know the Truth and The Truth sets you free from the lies that come from that sin. Sin is hiding in places in our brains from other voices that are not from God that are not the voice of God. My sheep hear my voice only no other voice will they follow. I'll go read it now. 

https://www.resistancechicks.com/choose-joy/?fbclid=IwAR2sjoCzRvisHM5mCu_fJJ4mmlLLCCUrZI6zPHLmzm3LTM-UApvuxcDWUwE

 

We all know that the joy of the Lord is our strength. But what if we don’t feel joyful? Does that mean we’re just weak? No, it means that Joy isn’t always something we just wait to come on us, sometimes we have to choose joy! “Wait, what? But my circumstance says ______, none of which brings Joy.” Yep, that’s life- troubles and trials may come, but joy comes in the morning! I’m not talking about genuine, when real tragedy strikes: the loss of a loved one etc… those things must be mourned in a real, natural way. But most of us have several heavy burdens we bear daily, that we can and must lay down at the foot of the cross and choose to pick up Joy.

I am by default a joyful, hopeful person, so when I am aggravated, frustrated, sad or depressed, there is something interrupting the flow of my soul communing with the Father. It’s in those moments that I have to choose to unplug from the LIE of the devil and reconnect with the voice of God. But this act is oftentimes a difficult one. It’s much easier to wallow in self-pity, self-righteousness, sorrow, fear and doubt. It’s easier to repeat the lies of the devil that what God has promised, He won’t do, then it is to stand up and speak LIFE and TRUTH to ourselves and any situation. But what is that truth? where does it come from? Living out of heaven.

The Our Father prayer that Jesus instructs us to pray includes something very interesting: “Thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.” That means there is a truth in heaven we must bring down to earth. Your healing is truth in heaven, your provision, your children’s salvation… we just have to pray it into existence here on Earth. 

“For God that commanded the light to shine out of darkness is he which has shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the Excellency of that power might be of god, and not of us.
We are afflicted on every side, yet we are not in distress: we are in doubt, but we despair not. 
We are persecuted, but not forsaken: cast down, but we perish not. 
Everywhere we bear about in our body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus might also be made manifest in our bodies.
For we which live, are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
So then death worketh in us, and life in you.
And because we have the same Spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken, we also believe, and therefore speak, knowing that he which has raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise us up also by Jesus, and shall set us with you.
For all things are for your sakes, that that most plenty of Grace by the Thanksgiving of many, may redound to the praise of God.
Therefore we faint not, but though our outward man May perish, yet the inward man is renewed daily.
For our light affliction which is but for a moment, causeth unto us a foremost excellent and an eternal weight of Glory:
While we look not on the things which are seen, but on the things which are not seen for the things which are seen, or temporal: but the things which are not seen, are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:6-18

“Because in great trial of affliction, their Joy abounded, and they’re most extreme poverty abounded unto rich liberality for to their power, yay and beyond their power they were willing.” 2 Corinthians 8:2&3

Sometimes a thing is beyond our power, and yet we do it anyway. This is what it is often like to choose Joy.

Paul talks extensively about all of his sufferings throughout 2 Corinthians, but consistently tempers that with how much he rejoices: “And He said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect through weakness. Very gladly therefore will I rejoice rather in mind infirmities that the power of Christ May dwell in me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, and persecution, in anguish for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9&10

Most of us are not suffering for Christ to the degree Paul did, so how much more ought we to rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice! You often get stuck in the cycle of lies in our minds, we know it’s wrong, but how do we get out? By “casting down every thought and imagination that exalts itself above god, bringing every thought captive to The obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

The cares and burdens of this world would like to take priority in the real estate of your mind. But they have no rightful place to be there, so we must kick them out, and choose Joy. 

If you have people in your life, family, friends, even coworkers, ask them to join with you in JOY, in CHOOSING Joy. When sorrow or negativity try to take hold: DON’T LET IT! And if no one will join in, do it alone. Joy, like negativity, is contagious! It will rub off, if you keep it up- not to mention the mental, spiritual and even physical benefits it will have on you.

A cheerful heart does good like a medicine, but a sorrowful heart dries up the bones.- Don’t let those bones dry up!

When the devil’s voice is loud in your head, speak the truth louder. When you’ve had an argument and you want to stay mad: don’t. Be the first to make it right, swallow your pride and repent, even if you were right, repent of the act of the disagreement in the first place, and ask that person to go with you to choose Joy.  If they can’t, do it anyway! Go bake a cake, move in Joy and the darkness must flee! 

Choosing Joy is often an exercise, it’s not something that we want to do, and oftentimes it’s not even easy to do, but we always have the choice, we know that it’s there, we can and ought to always choose Joy.

Consider those around you, and just how powerful your presence (and the attitude of your presence) are to a situation. You have the power to help or hinder any situation based on what you bring in the mindset that you choose. When it’s easier to snap- stop and ask the Lord to help you be a blessing to those around you. 

“People say I’m the life of the party…” may be the lyrics to a rather depressing song, but you truly can be the LIFE in any situation just by choosing the joy of the Lord. 

Paul said, “I have found in any situation, therein to be content.” That’s a rather incredible statement for someone who suffered so much for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I would encourage you, as I am even encouraging myself, to not only be content in whatever situation we are in, but JOYFUL!

In His Joy ~ Michelle 

I Made It Through

The Hard TRUTH Anti-Semites Don't Understand

A Tale of The Farmer's Two Daughters...

Once Upon a Time there was a Farmer who was the most kind and caring man in all of the land. This farmer had always wanted children but he and his wife struggled for many years trying... with much heart break... Finally they were able to conceive and the Farmer's Wife gave birth to a beautiful little girl. The Farmer loved, valued and treasured her more than anything in the world. 

As she grew up he took her everywhere with him- teaching her not only how to farm, but how to be a kind, generous and caring young lady. She loved her father; she knew that she was the apple of his eye... likewise she hung on his every word. She looked up to him with stars in her eyes, as if he was the only person that existed. The Farmer could not have asked for a better little girl; she brought him such joy! Their relationship was the most beautiful in the land and all of the village people could see it.

During the Farmer's Daughter's formative years, there was another little girl in the village who also was well known, but not for being good... She was a very wicked and evil little girl- always getting into trouble. She had the vilest of mouths, she would steal from the village shop owners, gossip about everyone behind their backs and bully the other children. She hated The Farmer and the Farmer's Daughter; she despised everything about them because they were good, kind and giving- all the things that she was not. The Farmer instructed his Daughter to stay away from the Village Girl, knowing that she would be a bad influence on his Daughter who remained untouched by those wicked, worldly ways.

As both girls grew into their teenage years, the Village Girl continued to get into more and more trouble, seeking wrong attentions from boys and then from grown men, creating an even worse reputation for herself. Meanwhile, the Farmer's Daughter carried on her life at the farm, loving her father, but secretly wishing she might receive, in some small way, similar attentions that the Village Girl had. The old adage "the grass is always greener in someone else's pasture..." is fitting here. 

Many years before, The Farmer had been out hunting, and accidentally killed a Village Man. Everyone in the village knew it was an accident... except the Village Man's Son... he did not care if it was an accident or not and grew up hating The Farmer regardless- unable to let go of the thought of revenge. One day the Village Man's Son passed the Farmer's Daughter along the road and an insidious idea sprung upon him. At first he thought of taking a life for a life, but then, always one to look out for his own self-interest, realized that if he was caught, he would likely go to prison for the rest of his life. Being the charming and very cunning young man that he was, he saw quickly how to take the Daughter from The Farmer in the most painful of ways... he would woo her, spoil her innocence and turn her into everything that the Farmer hated. Thus, he found ways to sneak and meet with her. His words were as sweet as honey to her ears... no one had ever said the things to her like this young man did. She thought for sure that he loved her and that she loved him with all of her heart. When The Farmer found out that this young man had been seeing his Daughter behind his back, he easily saw through the lies and forbade his Daughter to ever see him again. But alas, it was too late; the Village Man's Son had his hooks in the heart of the Farmer's Daughter and convinced her to run away and marry him. 

The Village Man's Son told her that she did not know anything of the world and that he would teach her all of the things that she had been missing out on while she had been sheltered by The Farmer. She believed him and was mesmerized and seduced by the life of self-fulfillment. The Farmer was heart broken at the loss of his precious Daughter who he had loved and cared for- who had been so special to him because she was his only child. He feared he would not be able to go on living; he feared for his wife as well, for they both felt helpless. 

Months went by, when one spring day a man, who was passing through the village, happened upon The Farmer and asked if he might have a bed he could borrow for the night. Never one to turn a stranger away, The Farmer welcomed him into his home and The Farmer's Wife cooked a hearty meal for the weary Traveler. After dinner, the Traveler told the Farmer and his Wife that he had no money to repay them for their kindness, but that he did have a gift that he would like to share with them in the form of a story. That story was of Jesus Christ. The Farmer and his Wife had always thought they had been good people, but after their daughter leaving, they realized that somewhere they must gone terribly astray. It was as if a mirror had been turned on their hearts and they realized that they needed a Savior- that there were forces outside of their control that required dependence on a loving God to make things right. That night, they asked Jesus to come into their hearts and He began to heal the hole that the loss of the Daughter had left. Their lives were never the same after... 

Shortly after the visit from the Traveler, The Farmer happened upon the wicked Village Girl that had once tormented his Daughter along with many of the other village children. She was, by now, a young lady and he found her sitting on the side of the road looking as if all life had been taken from her. Her hair was disheveled, her clothes were torn, she had bruises on her face... everything about her screamed that the wages of a selfish life had finally caught up with her. The Farmer took pity upon this dejected, worn lass, for he wondered if his own little girl were sitting in just such a state if he wouldn't want someone to take her under their wing as well.

 The Village Girl was shocked at his offer to come home with him and his Wife, for, hadn't she always treated him and his family horribly? Didn't her reputation precede her? But she had reached rock bottom, and there was something in the kindness of his eyes that caused her to assent.

On the Farm, his Wife bandaged up the Village girl and fed her. They asked her to tell them how she had come to be in such a state, to which she shamefully and rather painfully did. Rather than be judgmental, they shared with her the same gift that the Traveler had given to them: the love of Jesus Christ and the Good News that Christ came to forgive her sins. Overcome with guilt, shame, joy and relief, she repented and The Farmer and his Wife asked her if she would join their family. They took her in as their own, loved her and gave her a brand new life. They never once brought up her past, but rather, treated her, from that day forward, as if she had always been pure and holy, and part of their family. Without The Farmer and his Wife, she would have been nothing, remaining alone and beaten down. She was very grateful for everything that they had done for her- allowing her to come into their lives. 

They grew together to be a very happy family- and make a very good life on the Farm. The Farmer and his Wife taught the Village Girl all of the things she never learned growing up and over time she became the lady that she was always meant to be. However, after hearing what the Farmer's Daughter had done, leaving her beloved new family, she hated the Farmer's Daughter in her heart. She couldn't imagine how one could do such a thing and hurt them so badly. The very thought of it made her angry because they had been so kind to her. So she made it her purpose when in the Village to constantly tell everyone just how evil and wicked the Farmer's Daughter was by leaving him to go with the sinful Village Man's Son. 

Word of the Village Girl having been taken in to her family's life had spread to the Farmer's Daughter, along with all of the things she was saying about her. People related that the Village Girl went around telling everyone just how wicked and evil she was; that The Farmer loved her (the Village Girl) because she had been grateful and valued what he had done for her. She told everyone how she was the "New" Farmer's Daughter and the "new" Apple of his eye. The Village Girl thought that she was doing the right thing by standing up for The Farmer and his Wife, telling everyone what they had done for her. She thought that she was being loyal by proclaiming how good The Farmer was and how evil and to be hated, was anyone who could do such a thing to him.

Over the years, The Village girl married and had children; The Farmer and his Wife continued to love the Village Girl and her family... they considered them to be their very own children and grand children. The Farmer's Daughter however, continued in her life of sin and it consumed her. She too had children, but they grew up to be wicked and evil because it was the only way that they had ever known. The Farmer and his Wife eventually died after a long and fulfilled life; the Village Girl and her family were quite happy to inherit everything that The Farmer had and rightly so, for she and her family had been loyal and loved The Farmer, working along side him, caring for him and his Wife in their old age. The Farmer's Daughter and grandchildren received absolutely nothing- Why should they when they had turned their backs on The Farmer? The Farmer never reconciled with his beloved Daughter, and while he was very grateful that God had blessed him with a new family, there was regret, to his dying day, that his daughter was lost to him forever. The last thought before he took his final breath was of his beautiful little girl, and the amazing memories of them working the farm together... and some might say, he even died of a broken heart while recollecting these things.

The End.

Dang, that is really sad. So what do you say, we try again, and see how the story would develop if we changed one small part of it...

 Let us go back to the Village Girl and her hearing the story of what happened to the Farmer's Daughter and how she left...

Only this time, her heart breaks for The Farmer, his Wife and the Farmer's Daughter as well. The only thing that she can think about is wanting to reconcile The Farmer with the Daughter; she realizes that their relationship was very special, more special even than her own because they had such an amazing past, and years of history, memories and love together- love that was far different than she could imagine. She felt that if she could only share the love of Jesus Christ with the Farmer's Daughter, then perhaps she would repent, leave her sinful life and come back to live with The Farmer, his Wife and herself- she wanted to have someone to share in the Farmer's love and life with! For after all, the farmer's daughter was his own flesh and blood and she cared about their relationship even more than her own because frankly she felt special that she had even been allowed into such a rare family after the many evil things she had done. 

This strong desire to see The Farmer's heart made joyful again, by a reunion with his Daughter, drove the Village Girl to seek out the Farmer's Daughter- to write her letters, find her and speak with her. She did so, being very kind, giving and loving. Always reminding The Farmer's Daughter that she was The Farmers flesh and blood and that he still loved her even though she had turned her back on him. She also made a point to constantly remind the village people just how much The Farmer loved and missed his Daughter so that if she returned one day, they would welcome her with open arms. She would tell them how much he desired for his Daughter to come home and just how much she admired, respected, honored and revered the relationship that The Farmer and his Daughter once had.  

After months of showing this love to the Farmer's Daughter one day she came to the Village Girl and asked her why she had been so kind? She wanted to be reconciled with her father but wondered if he would take her back after everything that she had done. She wanted to know if The Farmer could still love her. The Village Girl assured her that indeed, he wanted her back more than anything- that he loved her still and wanted to have her back in their home, together. But the Farmer's Daughter told the Village Girl that she felt dirty, and unworthy and that there was no way she could be made clean again. So the Village Girl told her that she too had felt that way when The Farmer first took her in, but that there was a way for her past to be made as if it had never happened. A way for her to be washed clean and that way was through the blood of Jesus- because he died for their sins. The Farmer's Daughter was overjoyed at this news. That through Jesus, she could be made clean in order that she might come to her father again. The Village Girl was ecstatic and overjoyed- she knew it was the love of Jesus that she had shared over and over again with the Farmer's Daughter, reminding her that she was his true flesh and blood and that they were called to reconcile together, had brought them to this moment. The Farmer's Daughter repented then and there, asking Jesus to forgive her, make her new again and come into her heart. She was changed- and she felt it.

With excitement such as she had never felt before, the Village Girl brought the Farmer's Daughter home to see her father and mother. She watched in amazement, wonder and joy as the family was reunited once more- finally whole again, the way God intended it to be. She could see that without Jesus, she never would have been able to stay loyal to the family herself, and that she too would have, in the end, broken their hearts as well. She saw that the Farmer's Daughter had never had the truth of Jesus told to her either, and now that she had, she was able to come home. 

The entire village had a large celebration at the return and salvation of the Farmer's Daughter! They all missed seeing the beautiful relationship between the Farmer and his Daughter and were all so grateful for the kindness that the Village Girl had shown, despite everything... kindness that cleared the path, while shinning a light upon it, that brought the Farmer's Daughter back into the family and their village fold.

The two girls because instant sisters, as if they had always been such, and now the Father's heart was overflowing because he had two daughters who loved him more than life itself. After a while, the sisters both married and had children, who all grew into godly, kind, caring adults themselves and the family was known through all the land for their generosity, selflessness and love. They were always mindful that they were to be the Farmer's representatives to everyone- that who they were was a reflection on who he was. 

Over time, The Farmer and his Wife passed away, and the inheritance of the large farm passed equally to both daughters. The Village Girl was shocked at this, because she was not his rightful heir, she was not his flesh or blood and had no lawful right to inherit anything. The Farmer left a note for the daughters... to the Village Girl he simply said "I loved you like you were my own, and accepted you as such, take what is now yours." And to his Daughter he said, "I never let you go, because I knew you were always mine, and that one day, you would come home." He ended with words for them both, "I have loved you with an everlasting love- Jesus Christ brought us all together- without him, our union would not be possible- go and tell the whole world."

When Fear Tries to Grip You, Remember: Grace

 We all go through seasons in our lives, sometimes it's all summer and sunshine, but other times it is the dormancy of winter and the pain of doing chores in the bitter cold... but I don't mean physically; I mean spiritually, emotionally. Because sometimes in our lives there really is a major storm raging outside and there is real fear that we will lose our homes, our loved ones or our own lives to that storm. 

We've all been there, hunkered down in the fetal position, just praying for God to calm the thunder, lightning, rain, tornado or blizzard in our lives. We want Him to say to our storm, "Peace, Be Still." just as he did in Mark 4 when the disciples feared their boat would come apart in the storm. We want him to make it stop, that's not too unreasonable, after all, that's what the disciples did! Only, look at that Jesus said after the wind and rain obeyed... "Why are you so fearful, how is it that you have no faith?" 

So many times in our lives we just can't handle the fear any longer, it over takes our very being, we can't control it and in all honesty, we think that the fear alone might kill us, not the thing we are fearing... and guess what? We just might be right about that... Follow me on this... God is a loving Father, He WANTS to bless us, to protect us, provide for us, defend us etc... but we MUST trust in Him. When we are in fear, we are in sin because we have lost our faith in God. Now don't go beating yourself up about actually being in fear because we have a gracious Father who understands our frailness and weaknesses. 

What Jesus wanted the disciples to do was trust that even with the storm all around them, that they would be safe, they would be protected. Trusting would have been the greater miracle, not that the wind and sea obeyed him. Trusting in their safety regardless of the storm around them is where their faith should have been. But it wasn't, and you know what? Jesus still calmed that storm. 

You see, in reality, the easy road is "just trusting", it's not in panicking, rushing to God, freaking out and begging for hours, days, weeks or years for God to take our storm away. It's not the easy road even if He does calm the storm. The easy road is knowing He protects you in the midst of the storm, and quietly seeking Him, asking Him for victory through the storm, and praising Him for that victory ahead of time.

Take a look at the verse below...

" For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

'In repentance and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.'

But ye would not." Isaiah 30:15

Now in that particular instance, Isaiah is making a point to the people, but I want you to look at the two lines in the middle... look at these key words, "Rest", "Quietness", "Confidence"... in THOSE things is where our strength lies. REST. 

When you are in fear: Rest. When you worry: Rest. When you doubt: Rest. Be quiet, and be CONFIDENT that our loving Father will take care of us once we do so. Also, look at that next line, "But ye would not." In Isaiah here, God allows the enemy to come after His people in verses 16 and 17... but then He waits...

Now, I know the following scriptures are lot but I REALLY want you to read what happens next because it speaks for itself, when we don't rest, when we worry and mess up, yes the enemy can get to us at times but God doesn't wholly leave us, look what He does, continuing a few verses down in Isaiah 30...

God Will Be Gracious

18 Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you;
And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
Blessed are all those who wait for Him.

19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem;
You shall weep no more.
He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry;
When He hears it, He will answer you.
20 And though the Lord gives you
The bread of adversity and the water of affliction,
Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore,
But your eyes shall see your teachers.
21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“This is the way, walk in it,”
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left.
22 You will also defile the covering of your images of silver,
And the ornament of your molded images of gold.
You will throw them away as an unclean thing;
You will say to them, “Get away!”

23 Then He will give the rain for your seed
With which you sow the ground,
And bread of the increase of the earth;
It will be fat and plentiful.
In that day your cattle will feed
In large pastures.
24 Likewise the oxen and the young donkeys that work the ground
Will eat cured fodder,
Which has been winnowed with the shovel and fan.
25 There will be on every high mountain
And on every high hill
Rivers and streams of waters,
In the day of the great slaughter,
When the towers fall.
26 Moreover the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun,
And the light of the sun will be sevenfold,
As the light of seven days,
In the day that the Lord binds up the bruise of His people
And heals the stroke of their wound.

Am I the only one that receives an immense amount of peace from all of that!? How GRACIOUS our Father is. When we worry, doubt and fear, we have to keep in mind that this world is not our home, this world has no hold on us... not our job, our spouse, our children, friends, family or even our pets ;), nothing should be placed above Him in our lives. 

As Christians we are prepared to lose all for the sake of Christ, and when we are prepared to lose it, when it no longer has that painful hold on us at the fear of it's loss... then that is the place in which we have confidence that we, in fact, won't lose it. Placing anything above God in our lives is the place the devil wants us to be, because if he can get us in fear of losing it, then we give him the foothold he needs in order to take it. Rest, confidently in the Lord that when He has given something to you, it is a gift from the Father and the devil can't take it unless we give it away by not RESTING in QUIET CONFIDENCE in the Father. 

I want to end with an excerpt from a letter my Amish-Mennonite pen pal wrote to me, her name is Tashina, she is in her early 20's and I hope to incorporate some of her writings into future blogs...

      "I had to go over some of my jalapenos picked. Poor Santiago (her brother), he was lots more patient than I would be if I'd been trying to get something done, I need to compliment him on how he's growing in grace. Speaking of grace...

We had a bishop ordination in our community just the other week and one of the visiting bishops had a sermon that so touched my heart. he spoke on grace, and while that's a concept I've grown up with, the bishop just brought it out in such a fresh angle. I sat spellbound in church. You know, Grace is really, really amazing!!! I wish it so badly for everyone to accept the grace of God, believe in it- and let the grace of God work in our hearts. I can't express myself without sounding totally zany, but I'm just overflowing with awe at the grace of God.

     The bishop was just like, 'How can I explain grace? It's so totally amazing, it's free; it's marvelous- and it's sufficient!' Titus 2:11-14 have a fresh meaning. 

'For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.'  Okay, I'll quit. It's not like I'm preaching you know, :) it's just that life is so totally beautiful when one receives grace." 

She ended her letter with 2 Thessalonians 2:14-16 and it really sums up exactly what my thought was this morning, that we have an eternity with the Father in a glorious, heavenly home, let that put our short lives in perspective here, and allow it to take all fear from us so that we may REST in QUIET CONFIDENCE in Him, because that is where we have our STRENGTH to defeat the evil one while we are here on earth!

" Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work." 2 Thess 2:14-16 

"And let the BEAUTY of the Lord our God be upon us, and direct the work of our hands upon us, even direct the work of our hands." Psalm 90:17  

As always, remember that Jesus is that true light that expels all darkness!

Only By His Grace,
~ Michelle, Jeanne (jc) , Leah & Kansas Matt 

No longer a slave...

As I was reading last night in my Geneva Bible, Deuteronomy 17:14&15 stuck out to me  “When you come to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,’ you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother...." 

 But what really struck me was the study note that said, "Who is not of thy nation, lest he change true religion into idolatry and bring thee into slavery." Immediately I felt God had more to say about it, about how we have failed in this area, and are now in slavery... so I picked up my notebook and the following is what came...  

Thou hast put a king over thy-selves that is not of thy people (Deuteronomy 17:15); he has caused you to change true religion into idolatry and brought thee into slavery, when you are not slaves. 

I have bought you, I have paid for your freedom, all you must do is GET UP! Unchain yourselves, the locks are broken- you are FREE! (Isaiah 9:4-7)

But, you must turn your back on the meals provided, the shelter given and the clothing (that you have had to make yourselves) with poor materials handed to you. The meals are bland and barely enough to keep you alive- the shelter is only enough to keep out the pouring rain- it cannot stay the leaks or the biting cold. In the heat of summer you cannot stay inside for lack of air. 

Come! Eat and drink from ME (John 6:34-40) and you shall never thirst again. Never again shall your bellies grumble. I will shelter you in the shadow of my wings (Psalm 91)- not only

have I set you free but I have brought you into my home. I have clothed thee in fine linen- in scarlet. I have placed a royal crown upon your head. I have placed jewels on you (Ezekiel 16:13, Revelation 19:8)  and called you sons and daughters (1 John 3:1) - kings and priests. (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6 & 5:10)

 I have placed My Word upon your lips (Jeremiah 1:9, Isaiah 6:7 & 51:16) and when spoken it doesn't return to Me void- but it accomplishes that which it is sent out to do. (Isaiah 55:11) 

Cry no more, weep no longer, (Revelation 21:4, Isaiah 30:19 & 65:19) fear is cast far from your midst. (1 John 4:18) 

Your King has already come, the Prince of Peace is here- his kingdom is from everlasting to everlasting. (Psalm 145:13) The wait is over- prophets of old believed before the reign of My Kingdom, that it would come- you LIVE
NOW, what they believed! The time is now- it is the eternal age of the reign of Christ, the King of kings. Come to Me, have an audience with me all day- I will hear your supplications. (1 John 5:14, Revelation 3:20) I have an endless host of ministers from which I can send out to accomplish that which I send them to do. (Hebrews 1:7&14) They are waiting, asking Me: "Send me, can I go and help them? Now may I go fight?" Their desire is to work My works to show Me mighty. (Psalm 91:11) 

Ask of Me and I will give you nations as an inheritance.(Psalm 2:8)  I already have- I did it in the days of Joshua and Moses, in the days of Bradford, Washington and Adams- cast off the chains, rise up as free men and women. (Psalm 2:3) Should a king be a slave? Should a prince bow to any man? Certainly not! Neither do you bow to anyone but me. (Matthew 4:10)

 Lift up your head, for the time is now. When you speak- you speak in My name and the very gates of hell cannot stand against you. (Mark 9:39, Matthew 16:18)

Do not forget My mighty works, the strength of My hand and out stretched arm. (Psalm 20:6) You ARE the temple- everywhere you walk is holy ground- and My temple is arrayed in splendor. (1 Corinthians 3:16 & 6:19, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Exodus 3:5, Joshua 5:15, Acts 7:33) 

So now, bring all the tithes into the store house (temple- you!), that there may be meat in it. (Malachi 3:10) And above all, remember My greatest commandment: Love Me with all your heart, soul, mind and strength... and then you shall love thy brother as you do yourself. (Matthew 22:36-40)   

As always, remember that Jesus is that true light that expels all darkness,

Love, 

Michelle, Leah, Jeanne, Matt and Justin

2014 Christmas Letter!

Isaiah 9:6&7

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 
 Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

Friends and Family!

I cannot tell you how excited I am to sit down and write to you of the amazing year that God has blessed us with! 2014 has flown by like a roller coaster, but I'm hoping to be able to sum it up and hit the highlights for those of you who are only able to keep in touch with us with each Christmas letter! 

Oddly enough, this Christmas brings a beautiful story full circle. If you will recall, last year I told you of the miracle of the salvation of a new young friend of ours, Justin. Little did any of us know at that time, that it was to be just the beginning of a long, grueling, yet ultimately so very rewarding journey. I'm about to use a word that has such a strong negative stigma to it, that when anyone hears it, it is synonymous "hopeless" and that word is "heroin". This time last year, I didn't really know much about it, or any other drug for that matter. I certainly never thought that God would bring anyone INTO our life who was bound in it's grasp. Even as I write this I realized that today marks the day I got a text from Justin that said "I feel so alone and I'm so worried"... At that I told him to call me, where I found out he had been suspended at work because he was caught using heroin. Looking back on it, others may have thought of shutting the door on Justin, but we had already seen the miracle of God in his life and saw this as just the next step. Don't get me wrong, I don't think we really even understood the magnitude of what Justin was struggling with, but looking back, I think that was all part of God's plan. 

Visiting Justin with his mom Regena at Teen Challenge

Justin and Regena

For close to three weeks Justin stayed with us while trying to get clean from 5:00 AM until it was time to go home and go to sleep. We loved him, supported him and gave him God's word, but Justin hadn't hit the end yet, he had to fall once more before he finally let God pick him up and carry him. On December 30th after passing a drug test and having an incredible day with us, he used, although I am happy to say, for the last time. I could put the heart wrenching details of that story here, but they are unimportant compared to what followed. The next day Justin finally surrendered everything to Jesus, (if you are reading this on-line, follow this link to read the heart wrenching story, in some of Justin's own words Jesus the Carpenter- Making a Heroin Addict a Hero ). By the miracle of a friend suggesting Teen Challenge Cincinnati, Justin agreed to enter the program. He had been dead set against going into any "program" but

Justin, Michelle, Jonathan, Leah

when he found out that they didn't focus on addiction, but rather on turning you into a man of God, he was dedicated. This change meant losing his high dollar machinist job, and everything he ever knew, everything that is, accept his mother Regena, she was about to be the perfect gift he needed, at just the right time. If there is anything that has caused me to see the hand of God in this situation, it is the fact that Justin was drawn into the safety and comfort of his mother's arms, arms that had been aching to care for him since his parents' divorce 12 years prior. Regena is one of the kindest, most gentle, beautiful mothers I have ever known and we are so blessed to count her as part of our family! 

Michelle and Jonathan

When we dropped Justin off at Teen Challenge January 7th, not only did we all feel a huge weight lift off of our shoulders, knowing that God would bare it, Justin recalls having felt the exact same weight drop from his

Dinner with the young men of Teen Challenge

shoulders, into God's hands. The following seven months were some of the most rewarding of my entire life. Leah, Matt and I volunteered to cook dinner with the students at Teen Challenge on the weekends. In doing so we got to meet and befriend some of the most sincere, uplifting young men God created.  Including one of Justin's best friends and strongest encouragements while there, Jonathan. We were able to watch their struggles and growth, to pray for and fight along side them. The miracle that God did in Justin while he was at Teen Challenge, the change that took place in him, can't begin to be described with words, but each month I tried to grasp it and put it in the Carpenter's Daughters blog, please take the time to go to the archive page and read about it, it will reaffirm in you that we serve a very big God. Thanks to the generous donations of Justin's sponsors, his entire stay was entirely paid for, Justin and our family will never be able to thank them enough!

If you have the time, I highly encourage you to watch the video below of Justin's powerful testimony!

In August, Justin moved in with us, God had spoken to him that it was time to move forward and after seeking God, our whole family, including Regena, agreed that God was indeed speaking to Justin and that we were to support him in that. He moved into our basement and I gave up my future sewing corner to make a room for him, I guess sewing can be done anywhere... ;) The following month was spent with Justin and Matt working tirelessly to refinish the rest of the basement before our trip to Plymouth, MA in September. After our life changing pilgrimage there last year, I didn't expect to be returning again so soon, if ever, but Leah felt it was important that Justin get to see, taste and touch this cornerstone piece of American and world history! We were fortunate enough to be able to take two more tours with Leo Martin and get to catch up with he and his wife Nancy while also getting a sneak preview of their new Family: The Cornerstone of Society exhibit. If there is nothing else you and your family do this coming year, take a trip to Plymouth, our country's hometown, give our friend Nancy a call at the Jenny Museum and schedule a tour with Leo, I promise you, your life will never be the same. You will learn the truth about the founding of our great nation, with God as it's center!

Visit the Jenny Museum's website and meet our dear friends Leo and Nancy, click here! 

Nancy, Matt, Leah, Leo, Michelle, Jimmy and Justin

In addition to getting to take Justin, we were also able to take a former fellow student and friend of Justin's (and ours!) from Teen Challenge, Jimmy. One of the most amazing young men of God I have ever met; our journey to Plymouth this year wouldn't have been the same without him. He has also become like an adopted member of our family, although he lives near Columbus, he is doing what God has called him to do, supporting his family and God has opened up several doors of ministry for him, we are so very excited to see God work in his life. 

Our trip also wouldn't have been complete without our dear friend Ashley! Someone who started out as a fan from our You Tube Channel, turned into an e-mail pen-pal and friend

over the past 2-3 years. She drove up twice from Manhattan to stay with us while we were in America's Hometown, Plymouth! For the first time we got to put a face, voice and personality to this tiny girl with a big heart! She too has become like a little sister to us and even came to visit us here in Ohio a month later for our Reformation Day/Basement Remodel Party! We had a

blast that week teaching her culinary skills, visiting the Creation Museum, and staying up till all hours of the night! We even had time the last night she was here to film a Leah and Michelle's Virgin Diaries with her in it!  To watch it click play on the video below!




As for a recap of our trip to Plymouth watch the video below!

Uncle Jac at Niagara Falls!

Many of you will be curious to know how Uncle Jac is doing and you will be happy to know that he recovered from his pelvic fracture and several months of physical therapy and is doing quiet well! In fact, after 20 years of not driving, just before our trip to Plymouth he got

his driver's license and even drove the big blue conversion van for a stretch on the way home... until the fuel pump went out... that left us stranded in Medina, Ohio for an extra day... 


As many of you know one of the greatest additions to our humble homestead this year has been chickens! Matt (with occasional help from Justin and even Jimmy) built the coop

entirely from recycled pallet wood! They now live like princesses and eat like queens! Even in the winter we are still getting 4-5 eggs a day from our 9 girls! As a side note, Leah would

Matt and Justin working on the coop

like to submit a public announcement NOT to allow a chicken to jump on your shoulder when you are wearing $2000 diamond earrings... After a week of quarantine, we are left to assume that one of our girls is worth $1000, harboring said booty in her crop... But we still love them!

To our "produce" productivity we have added hydroponics to the basement, thanks to Matt we are on our second sewing of the year and have learned a lot! In our pantry we have added hundreds of jars... you name it,from apples to green beans, pears, jams, jellies, tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, peppers etc! 

Leah and I continue to enjoy life as pet sitters but have cut back from our grueling schedule to allow for more time with our family and our many projects, which means tightening our belts a little, but we are happy for the change of pace and have discovered that you don't need as much money when you do and make things for yourself, God has certainly blessed the fruit of our hands!!!

Matt Milking at Amish Farm!

Leah has been a huge blessing as she has spent countless hours trying (and succeeding) to produce self sufficient, all natural products! She is now making almost 100% of our bread, milling the flour from scratch, from wheat, oats, local grown flint corn etc...! She has tried several recipes, some flops that get fed to the chickens and some that are out of this world! It is a labor of love and we thank her for it. We also have homemade tooth paste, chap-sticks, laundry detergent and softener, cooking spray, mascara, hair conditioner, lotion, butter and cheese from our fresh milk... the list goes on, she is daily researching for her family's health and well being! Thanks to her we now are the proud owners of two herd shares, one with a local friend's cow, Pumpkin Head who just became

a momma! And another with a very dear Amish family in Hillsboro, if you are at all inclined to research the benefits of raw milk, let us know, it really has changed our lives! 


Lastly, this year we decided to make most of our Christmas presents! While Matt has been busy making Lincoln Logs (yes, you read correctly) from pallet wood, Justin has been welding gifts in the garage, Leah, mom and I have been knitting and crocheting and putting together baskets of Leah's homemade natural products! It's been a blast! 


If you have managed to stay with me this long, I thank you and commend you. There is no way I could have summed up this year any shorter and in fact I have left a ton out. Moving into 2015 we look forward to Justin building his bee hives and getting his first batch of bees, Matt and Justin completing their saw mill and starting to mill wood as the Lord leads, and more ideas of natural living! I hope to have the time to add more to this blog, please take the time to follow us on this blog as well as our You Tube channel to keep up with our endless enterprises! God continues to teach us everyday, and we are very eager students! The most important thing to remember is:

I would like to close our year end letter with a prayer Justin wrote recently...

Matt, Leah, Jimmy, Michelle and Justin, Plymouth

Father God, let this be a declaration of a pure motive for purpose, to change my ways of understanding, redirect my patters of life thinking, implanted into my mind by means of indoctrination. I must give all the more earnest heed to the things I have heard by your Holy Spirit, take dominion over my enemies, step up, acknowledge and remember the God of my Salvation, (EL-YESHUATI) the Lord my Provider (YAHWEH-JIREH), My healer (YAHWEH-RAPHA), My Protector (YAHWEH-NISSI), the Lord my Righteousness (YAHWEH-TSIDKENU), my banner for all to see. The God of Peace (YAHWEH-

SHALOM), to Him be the unending praise for the Perfect Sacrifice so that we can be saved, eternally, despite corruption. Thus be the grateful day of deliverance from all unrighteousness, set free from strongholds by the blood of Jesus Christ. Call to mind the Holy living. God, you've paved the path from the foundation of the earth and the destruction of the same, they will perish, but You remain. By Your mercy and grace, I must say, I look forward to the day I meet a Man, that Faithful and True, be His name. Amen 

May you and your family be blessed by His grace this Christmas season and in the new year to come. 

With Love,

Jeanne, Leah, Michelle, Uncle Jac, Matt, Justin, Sydney and Jasper

Matt, Leah, Justin, Michelle, Jimmy and Ashley, Plymouth