Being His Hands

If you missed the previous blogs in Justin's story see links at the end!

"These Are Their Tears" By Justin
Showing how God transforms our tears into beauty

My God

 By: Justin Bee

My God, Your name is most precious among names

Your good- is our perfect

Your words of creation are not to comprehend

Your Truth is just

You allow choice, You provide options

Lord, You set in motion all things from the beginning to the end

The air I breath is perfect

My flow of blood: Graceful

Your teachings are unforgettable

Belief fuels faith and Your faith performs miracles

Answers to all questions are within Your words

God Your power is superior, beyond imagination

Your glory IS only

Your Son was and is our Savior

Your will is sometimes mystery

Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall

In Jesus Name- I live

When Justin handed me his note book with the following story in it, I flipped to the page before it

and found the above prayer and instantly was transfixed by the raw honesty and sincerity of it- but more than that, by the truth. As the fourth line says, God's truth is just- it's always just. From my very first encounter with Justin, I gave him the nickname "Justice", since after all it's what his name means. Often when I write him, I put Justin Justice Bee. God changed Abram’s "high father" name to “Abraham,” "father of a multitude" (Genesis 17:5) and his wife’s name from “Sarai,” “my princess,” to “Sarah,” “mother of nations” (Genesis 17:15). God changed Jacob’s "supplanter" name to “Israel,” “having power with God” (Genesis 32:28). He changed Simon’s "God has heard" name to “Peter,” "rock" (John 1:42). There is something to your name. Around here we call Matt, Kansas and in a way it wipes clean your past and gives you a new identity. When we surrender our lives to Christ "behold, all things become new" but what I find interesting, especially with the story you are about to read is how often times we find God there, in our past, when we look back, gently calling us forward, leading us even before we knew Him. After all, He is the Master Carpenter, and in cases such as Justin's story here, we see His beautiful handiwork taking shape. 

This story started out as a memory and as Justin dug deeper into it, he saw God's hand on this day and set out to reenact it to the best of his ability that he might document the powerfulness of God moving in his life before he called Him Savior.  

March 17th

On my way down here to the class room I prayed to God that as I go to write this memory, He would help me to separate what actually happened that day, from anything that I might accidentally over expound upon just to make a better story. Also, that the truth that I see in God's presence in my life, even before I knew He was there, I will be able to express to the exact conclusion that I have personally made from the experience.

I was 21 or 22, and while I can't remember the entire day, (as in before and after the actual events of the story) the first thought to the last and everything in between are very dear to me still. 

I had many close friends at the time- well, actually, looking back, not very close at all I guess. I should say, I cared about many friends I had in those days. 

The unique experience started when I was driving down the road one day, I just got this feeling that I should call my friend Krista, only, I didn't know why. I couldn't shake this feeling, so I went ahead and called her. The first thing, well, the only thing I could think to say was, "Is everything okay?" She answered with shock- something like, "How did you know? Who told you my aunt died?" I said, "nobody, I just had this strong feeling that I should call you for some reason." She told me that her aunt had just passed away that night saying how crazy it was that I called her out of nowhere, knowing something was wrong. 

After I got off the phone with her, I pulled over into the next parking lot, which was right down the road in between Sugarcamp and Dry Run on RT 50. Little did I know at the time that the Teen Challenge Women's home was directly across the street. I only know that I felt compelled to get out of my truck, kneel down on the curb of the parking lot and start to pray. I can't remember what I prayed, but immediately after I stood up and returned to my truck I remembered where her aunt lived. I had been there once, only one time, and had never met this woman, but all I wanted to do was be there- somehow. 

On my way over, I was lead to stop at Meijer to get something to show her family that... well..., I'm not even sure... I didn't really know what I was doing or why I was doing it, but it felt right. So as I went into the store, I realized I had no idea what I could get. I walked outside to the garden center when I turned and saw these beautiful, bright orange flowers. Instantly I

knew they were perfect, so they were the ones I bought. It felt odd that I was about to take these flowers to her husband, who I also did not know and had never met. I almost turned around and didn't go through with it, but I felt like I just had to. 

As I arrived at her street, there were people outside so I drove past and didn't stop because I didn't know them, nor did they know me. So I turned around and drove back up; this time, there was no one outside. I thought I would just place them on the sidewalk and go- and I did so- only as I was getting back into my truck, a man opened the front door and just looked at me. As a stranger in the driveway of someone who had just passed away, all I could say was, "I brought some flowers", and pointed to them. In return, the only reply he could make was, "Thank you." Then I just got in my truck and left.

This was all so very weird because looking back on the entire thing, I really didn't want to do like, any of it- from the phone call (which I didn't want to do at first but then had to), to the prayer, and then the flowers I saw and thought, "no, those won't work." I just kept hearing a voice telling me where to go, which flowers to pick- every single thing I did felt like it meant something. I don't know exactly what but those specific flowers meant something. Maybe it was the strong orange color of them, the type or the reason I chose the one with three flowers verses the one with only a single blossom. 

I've never seen that man, neither been to that house since. I know it was some sort of message for her family, from God. I never told anyone of the flowers, not even Krista. Somehow I didn't feel it would be right to tell people what I had done. Only now looking back on it all, I know why... because it wasn't me that did it, it was God using me to do what He wanted.

Matthew 25:40 says, "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me."

Justin didn't know at the time that he was being Jesus that day, or that he was doing it to Jesus as well, he just obeyed. It was Justin's obedient spirit that answered the call to accept Jesus as Lord over his life, to enter Teen Challenge, and to walk upright before Him daily. If only we all could have such an obedient spirit. To be His hands, to be His feet, speak His words- to do unto the least of them! Go out and "Bee" those things today! 

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

Till next time- the Carpenter's Daughters and Sons love yall!

Previous blogs: His Crown Jesus the Carpenter: Making a Heroin Addict a Hero

The above photo was taken of Justin with the painting "Calvary" by Stephen Sawyer, www.art4god.com it has literally save Justin's life- and countless others' I'm sure.

Steve posted this on his Facebook page along with the following:

A YOUNG MAN NEEDING SPONSORS

"Justin is a 24 year old guy, who has been secretly battling a severe heroin addiction for the past 5 years.

After accepting Christ in Nov. ’13 he saw the painting "Calvary" posted on a friend’s blog. He was overwhelmed with emotion, he couldn't stop staring at it and felt the Lord speak to him saying, “It’s time”.
He sat his friends down, opening up to them about his past. They got him "Calvary" for Christmas and it has become one of his most prized possessions. As a result of that chance glance, he has entered the Teen Challenge program- in his own words- he wants to come out, “looking like Jesus, acting like Jesus and talking like Jesus.”
This painting has literally saved Justin’s life; you can see with the huge smile on his face he is doing amazing! Justin is in desperate need of sponsors to help finance his stay in what they call the “Jesus Factory”.
If you are interested, you can send a donation in the name of Justin Bee to: Teen Challenge Cincinnati, P.O. Box 249, Milford, OH 45150 or for more information e-mail Masfaith3@aol.com "
Thank all of you for reading this and considering helping someone.
They contacted me, thanked me for my work, and hoped for some assistance in a very difficult and brave recovery. The photo and comments in quotations are from them.

Stephen

The Carpenter's Sons

Good news... I love good news! "Hey, good news I found my car keys!" "Good news I found a hundred bucks I thought I lost!" "My wife had a baby, it's a boy!"... or my favorite,           "Good news, I accepted Christ and he's changed my life!" Good news.

I scroll through my Facebook feed looking for others' "Good news", I just love it. But what about those days when you don't have any good news to share. What about the day you wake up, with a cold, your cat got loose, you stubbed your toe, the hot water heater gave out and your car won't start. Well, guess what, I've got "Good News" for you! Philippians 3:20-21 "But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior, Who will transform and fashion anew the body of our humiliation to conform to and be like the body of His glory and majesty, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself."

So if we are to be like Him... how do we get there? Well, I've got more good news, He's our Father and He teaches us!

2 Corinthians 6:18, "And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

So I know what it is to be a Carpenter's Daughter, I know what it's like to feel that safety, that protection, that provision that a Father, in fact the Heavenly Father, gives to his daughters. He shows me how to live like a proper daughter of such a Man should be. He shows me how to treat my family, friends, loved ones, (even enemies), and also He shows me how I should be treated when I become a wife. 

But what must it be like to be a Carpenter's Son? How does it differ from how a Father treats a daughter? Society today has labeled sons and daughters alike, but we aren't, not by a long shot. The Carpenter's sons learn how to provide for, protect and shelter their loved ones- in short- to emulate their Father. But the Father doesn't leave them to fend for themselves, He teaches them to lean on Him, to always hear his voice, and then He provides all a man needs in order to care for his family. He teaches His son how to lift up his wife spiritually, to draw her closer to God, to lean on His steadfast promises. He teaches His son how to train up his own sons and daughters in the ways of righteousness so that when they are old, they will be a solid foundation. Thus, for generations to come, his posterity will know the one true Carpenter and how to be His sons and daughters forever.  

I have had the privilege of seeing the Carpenter at work in the "shop" with two of His sons lately, one He has been working with for a couple of years, the other just joined the lessons. The former is hard at work, milling a large intricate piece, with incredible detail. He is far along in his project and has learned much in his work as an apprentice under the Master Carpenter. The other, while younger and less experienced is eager to learn, a quick study and easily grasps a hold of the lessons being taught. Both are a miracle and a wonder to watch. The skills being taught here aren't for the faint of heart, they take will power, self discipline, patience, love, bravery, wisdom, responsibility, time, self sacrifice, and a willing heart. The Master Carpenter has big plans for each of his sons and will give them more and more responsibility as they prove fit for each new task. 

As the youngest of a half brother, two (almost step brothers), a sister and two male cousins who were like brothers to me, I have a pretty good idea of what it would be like to be a son. Sadly, that includes knowing how one shouldn't raise his sons and daughters. However the vision of what it means to be a godly man, came to me through my Father so I would know when the right one came my way and God's frame work for such a man is detailed and beautiful! A family friend often jokes with my sister and I every time we go to tackle a manly project and says, "well, you're just a girl." He says it in jest and while many women would get offended, I take it as a compliment. I can use a chainsaw, solder a pipe, frame a window and fix my breaks... but I can't be a man. I don't have the gifts and even if I did, I wouldn't want the responsibility- and I shouldn't want it. God made me the way I am, He built me and wired me to love loving, to love nurturing, to love serving, but also to love being loved, 

to love being nurtured, to love being provided for and protected. I love caring for someone on their way back to health when they are sick, I love being needed. It fills me overflowing with joy and pride! Thus it's easy for me to see the flip side. The same joy I get out of being a daughter and doing the things I am wired to do, is the same joy and

pride a son feels in being a man. It's not a curse, it's a gift. It's a gift to be what God has called us to be, and that's what I call Good News! Once we know what God wants us to be, the rest of life comes easy! Think about Jesus, all the time think about Him, He is the original Carpenter's Son! Think about what it means to be a Carpenter's son, a Carpenter's daughter. There is nothing that can stop you from obtaining the prize of the high calling God has for you when you think about Jesus, think about the Carpenter! Throw yourself wholly into the skills and lessons the Father wants to teach you and you will watch the masterpiece- that is your life- be handcrafted right before your eyes, what Good News!

Ephesians 3:6 says, " [It is this:] that the Gentiles are now to be fellow heirs [with the Jews], members of the same body and joint partakers [sharing] in the same divine promise in Christ through [their acceptance of] the glad tidings (the Gospel)."

Ephesians 3:14-15 says, "For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name]."

The "Pearable"

Peeling pears... if it weren't for the fact that this gravity driven bomb, disguised as a fruit had landed in my sister's eye during our "shake down" of the tree, I might be more inclined to enjoy my skin shedding profession of the week... but then again maybe not. For the first season since planting our many fruit trees, the precious pear decided to bless us with an over abundance of it's glorious beauties, some reaching the size of softballs, (like the one that gave Leah a swollen eye). The single most important thing you need to know about pears is they take time to soften and sweeten- however they do this after they have been picked. We let ours set for about a week and sat down with our bushels in the living room, many bowls of lemon water, compost buckets and peeled. It may sound rather "apeeling" (yeah I couldn't help myself there) but it's a tedious job especially if you didn't get out there in early spring to spray the tree with borax (as our Indian friend, Brother John informed us during our visit to WV a couple of weeks ago). You see, a store bought pear is a beautiful thing, it's smooth and virtually blemish free. These pears have been protected from the hazards of the "bite" of  pestilence... i.e. bug. Come next spring, we'll be out there with the borax to spray our trees, but this year we are dealing with what we have, thankful to have a bountiful harvest of anything.

An interesting fact about pears is that if one is bit by a bug, it usually doesn't rot in that spot like you might think, but rather, forms a hard almost callous in that spot and continues growing. This callous can sometimes go as deep as the core and you have to remove it before they are canned. This makes for a lot of bumps in the road while peeling and slows the process drastically. But on we trod, all hands on deck, with Matt, mom, and Leah all joining in on the fun. Once they are peeled, they also have to be cored, then canned. We're doing several different things with them including spiced pears and fermented pear salsa. The latter got Matt a little excited, I heard him say, "you mean I can eat chips and salsa and get the 'good for my gut' food in me?" Yes Matt, you can have your cake and eat it to. We have all noticed a vast improvement in our health and digestive systems since starting to ferment some of our garden foods, only... Matt isn't a huge pickle fan (which are the easiest to ferment) and the last batch of fermenting we prepared was peppers. Poor Matt also has a difficult time with spicy things but is trying for the sake of his gut and being thankful for the things that come from the garden. Thus the several evenings of pears commenced.

 Allow me a moment if I take the time to point out the symbolism I found in the pear process... I like to think of myself as one of these pears- going along in life, trying to grow, to become a big, beautiful, soft, sweet pear. Only, I'm not protected, some how the gardener either didn't know how or failed in his job to protect me from those bugs. Like the world does, they bit me. But the tree I was connected to (my mom, sister and the Lord) was strong, so I still grew, but I had to callous over those bites and move on, keep growing. Once I was ready to be harvested, the Lord, having fired the gardener that was supposed to protect me against these dangers before they came, stepped in as the Master gardener and pulled me from the tree where I rested (this happened to me out in Oklahoma where I lived for 4 years). Not only did I rest while there, I was ripening, the sugars where building; I was sweetening, softening. Then came time for the peeling, this was hard work and sometimes painful because God had to go in and take out all of those calloused spots where I had healed over the pain in order to remove them. All the while I was placed in the sweet lemon water to keep from going bad before I was ready for the next steps in life, to transform and move on to something far greater. You see, God can take that pear with all of those holes, still dice it up and make a beautiful jar of spiced pears out of it!

Before concluding, I'd like to point out something I said earlier- this coming the spring, I'm going to do my best to see to it that those bugs never take a bite out of my baby pears. Dear friends- that is how our Heavenly Father is. So many times we look at our lives and we say, "if that bad thing hadn't happened to me, I wouldn't have learned that lesson, or become this or that." etc.. But no! Yes, God can make something beautiful out of anything, he's the Master Carpenter! But His perfect will is that those "bites", those bad things, never happen in the first place. He is a good, loving Father; He only wants the best for His children and we must see to it that we do the same for our own children, to protect them from the "bites" of the world, so that they may grow up to be healthy, beautiful whole... just as God intended them to be.

Until next time, remember, Jesus is that beautiful Light that expels all darkness...

Love for you all,

~Michelle

The beauty in writing and wood...

I remember a time when I had hours in my day to sit down and write; short stories, poems, journals, songs, sermons, teachings. You name it, nothing fulfilled me more than the creative outlet of either typed or hand written words. I love the authenticity of looking back years down the road, running my fingers over the slight indentations of a page and almost being transported back in time to the very moment I penned them. At the same time, I love the swiftness in which my thoughts can travel from my brain, to my fingers, the keyboard and onto a screen in front of me. I love the "click, click, click" that I feel and hear with every letter typed. While I still journal occasionally at night before I go to sleep or in the morning before I start my day- I find my eyelids so heavy from exhaustion that creativity has been replaced by a swift jotting down of a few thoughts, days events or things the Lord has spoken to me. 

Recently a thought occurred to me, what if I simply made time to write. I know there are many people out there that are following us on Facebook, You Tube and Isaiah 58 Ministries' blog that would love a more down to earth, intimate look into what makes us tick. So what if I made the time to give them that? Yeah, a few people might enjoy it (and I hope you do!) but more than that, I am bursting at the seems to share all of the exciting things that God is doing in my family and in me. I may shun technology, but I am very excited about this opportunity to share my life with you, dear readers; be you friend, family or stranger... 

Welcome to the life of The Carpenter's Daughters. 

Our friends/neighbors down the street had a tree come down this year; not just any tree, a black walnut. While they have a large back yard where this massive mess can hide, they still want it removed and we promised to help take care of it months ago... then summer hit and our schedule skyrocketed, placing the tree removal on the back burner. Matt confided in me some time ago that the real reason he wasn't as motivated to take care of it was because he just couldn't abide the idea of such beautiful, valuable wood meeting it's end in our wood burning stove. Since then he's been trying to figure out a way to create his own saw mill. You see, Matt grew up listening to This Old House and New Yankee Workshop reruns on his walk-man every night before sleep- this is not a joke. The kid had a passion for wood; he still does in fact. He took wood shop in high school and built some pretty amazing things, but his family discouraged this creative outlet in Matt so he shoved it to the side. When most of us were excited about getting toy catalogs in the mail, Matt hungrily flipped through ones selling saw mills. Of course he never bought one, but it's been a desire since he was a child- fast forward twenty+ years and we're going to try to make that dream a reality. 

A lot of people see the projects that we take on- a 3,000 mile bike trip, massive garden, home remodeling, starting up a business and they ask us, "so what is your next big thing?" I always reply, "as the Lord leads" but today I can say we have a few things rolling around as solid desires we'd like to see to fruition soon- starting with what we can do now. We want to start milling our own wood, not only to save money on projects, but so that Matt can fulfill the calling that God has laid on his heart to be a carpenter. What an odd path to veer on... and yet it fits. I don't know if it will work out and be successful but I do know it's a beautiful thing. 

My mom came to me the other day with an exciting revelation about how all of your problems go away when you think about Jesus. Not just for a moment or a few hours, but all day, everyday. And why not? He's right there with you, speaking to you, leading you... It's hard to be self centered and consumed by the world's burdens when you are thinking about Jesus. Meditating on him during your everyday activities, not just when you are sad, upset, or praying before a meal. So I did- and what vision came to me but Jesus the carpenter. Not Jesus on the cross- that image is sealed upon my heart, but rather Jesus, the everyday man. What he was doing with his time, while he was being prepared for the greatest ministry of all time. So I was hungry for research. I know my Bible, so I know there isn't much in there during this time in his life other than the fact that he was a carpenter. Matthew 13:55 tells us "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?" and Mark 6:3 says almost the same thing, note though how instead of being called the son of a carpenter, it says rather "Isn't this the carpenter? ..." Some people say that at this point Joseph, his earthly father, had probably passed away and that Jesus was essentially the man of the house, thus taking the title for himself. I am no scholar and will not presume to decide that debate, but either way, he makes a striking study. This man, who knew he was the Son of God, being humble enough to take such a lowly position. There is also some debate as to what kind of carpentry work Jesus was doing. The original Greek word for carpenter was "tekton" which means craftsman, builder, carpenter, mason. Thus, he could have been a builder of any kind. However, the most common held belief is that he was a local carpenter that would have made tools like plows, furniture, homes etc... He also could have been a combination of mason and carpenter. I find both beautiful. The image that conjures in my mind of our Lord and Savior spending hours working with his hands, with only his thoughts and communication with His Heavenly Father to keep Him company takes my breath away. He truly is the Son of the real Carpenter, the real Craftsman, the One who created us all. And just as he took on this earthly body, to become like us, God sent him to become the son of another craftsman, that he might feel what it is like for an earthly man to create something. This is an imitation of his Father in Heaven who created and crafted all that we see and are.

I am not a parent, but I can see the tenderness of a son wanting to do the same things that his father does. That is why God created us the way He did, so that we might imitate Him- that we might fill the earth and subdue it. Genesis 1:28  "God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Take the earth in our hands and create! As husband and wife come together and create! That is how we imitate our Father in Heaven. For some reason I always felt that when I grew up I wanted to marry a carpenter; how strange, who specifies what they want a future spouse to do? I now know why, whether I end up with one or not isn't the point, the point is that without knowing it, I was being a classic daughter, wanting to marry someone just like her dad. Not my earthly father- but my Heavenly Father, how special.

Herein lies the title of this new blogging experience from me to you. I hope you will continue to join me on my journey- my family's journey. I promise it will be fun and exciting! There is never a dull moment around here- just yesterday Matt tore down a retaining wall that had been half crumbled for 50+ years so that we can rebuild it. Today, he and I drove to the Fairfield Menards and bought two skids of retaining wall block- only, when the fork lift placed the first skid of 216 blocks on Matt's flatbed Dodge Ram, the shocks sank about six inches. The fellas there suggested we come back, to pickup the second skid... saying in a slight country accent "I've got me an F250, of course it ain't a Dodge, but it barely hauls a skid of concrete..." The day before, I was digging up the flower bed behind our house to move all the plants so that we might create a place to dry the wood that we mill, I thought to myself, I need to start a blog about all this stuff, it's so exciting! I really want to give you a glimpse into what it's like on our side of the fence, day to day, real feel kind of a deal. So kick back, grab some tea and join us... There is much, much more to come! 

Until next time, think about Jesus, he is that beautiful light that expels all darkness.

Love for you all,

~ Michelle