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 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