Windows of Hope

...like broken windows, sunlight shines through the remains left in tact,
but Christ's love PIERCES through the shard of our brokenness

There is a girl. Just turned "Sweet 16". But unlike the old adage, "Sweet 16, never been kissed," this young girl has been
"sold", secretly, since she was a child, by a family member, to support a drug habit.
You know her. If you are reading this. You know her. For her protection, I will not disclose her name.

If you are reading this, you live within 30 miles of where she grew up and this horrific, gut-wrenching act
was forced upon her while she was growing up in our schools. Waking up each morning, after a night of soul-stealing by men she didn't know and couldn't fight off, she would paste on her "let's go to school" smile and sit in your classroom and play with your child. The group of girls who as teens, used to "hang out" in your kitchen, laughing and talking about the next football game.
And then she had to go home, to her literal hell on earth, to obey and to please.
Her life threatened to end if she did not.
I imagine there were many times when that option seemed like the better of the two.

And then God said..."It is finished!" As He has before. Enough is enough.
This is my child.
She will be delivered today.
And through a myriad of events, He alone orchestrated and provided her way out of this bondage that was not to be hers. This is not from God.
God loves His children.
He is our Redeemer. Our Deliverer. Our Healer.

And He is...Through the unconditional love of Jesus Christ, and the those He has called to help with the healing at
Abba's House,
this young girl's life, and the lives of the family members who had no idea what was happening to their child,
God is doing a great and mighty work for His Kingdom.
That you may know.

The program at Abba's House, is a minimum of 18 months, up  to 3 years, depending on the trauma that the child has experienced. It costs the family(s) between $3000-$4000/month for the rehabilitation and care they receive at the home.
What a tremendous burden, not to mention the pain and anguish they are all dealing with.
My heart breaks for them.

Yet, God is good! And there has been great healing and miracles in their lives and hearts,
where He has taken up residence, and will remain, FOREVER.

Please join me helping to support this family. The repurposed windows, that are for sale at Cozy Cottage Blessings, LLC, via Facebook or at Not So Shabby Antique Mall, Holland, Michigan are for sale to help to support this family in our own community. Will you consider purchasing a window, for yourself, or perhaps a gift?
100% of the proceeds goes to Abba's House, and directly deposited to their account.
Checks may be written to Abba's House and I will send them immediately.

Please check out the site, www.abbashousetc.com, to see the amazing work God is doing in the lives of these traumatized teens and their families.

The windows for purchase are pictured on FB, Cozy Cottage Blessing, LLC.
You may email, or call, for my address in which to purchase your window and/or mail your check. If  you live fairly close to the Holland area, I will hand deliver your window so as to save shipping cost.

God Bless you all this holiday season. May the Giver of all Good Gifts speak to your hearts and abide with you,
now and forevermore.
Amen.

Abba's House | Rescue. Restore. Rebuild.

www.abbashousetc.com

Abba's House is a center of mercy and refuge, a safe place for young adults and families to be healed and restored. House of Hope is located in Traverse City, Michigan.

Thank you, Jesus, that I don't have to know why, when, or how, because You already do. I praise You that Your perspective is what determines the outcome for my good. I surrender to Your will, Lord, believing and praying that the desires of my heart bring you all glory. Amen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l26UoD-N2hA

"Nothing Is Wasted"

The hurt that broke your heart
And left you trembling in the dark
Feeling lost and alone
Will tell you hope's a lie
But what if every tear you cry
Will seed the ground where joy will grow

And nothing is wasted
Nothing is wasted
In the hands of our Redeemer
Nothing is wasted

It's from the deepest wounds
That beauty finds a place to bloom 
And you will see before the end
That every broken piece is
Gathered in the heart of Jesus
And what's lost will be found again

Nothing is wasted
Nothing is wasted
In the hands of our Redeemer
Nothing is wasted

From the ruins 
From the ashes
Beauty will rise
From the wreckage
From the darkness
Glory will shine
Glory will shine

Nothing is wasted
Nothing is wasted
In the hands of our Redeemer
Nothing is wasted
[x2]

From the ruins 
From the ashes
Beauty will rise
From the wreckage
From the darkness
Glory will shine
Glory will shine

I am with you, I am with you, I am with you...

"Will you call me when you have a minute? I have something I need to talk with you about. God has put you on my heart so strongly lately. Can we make a phone date tomorrow night at 8pm?"

There's a girl. With a baby.
They need a home.
She's a good girl. Wants to finish school, go to college, provide for her child.
I mentor her.
God put you on my heart.

There is no room at the inn right now.
I want to help. It must not be me. We will pray.

"Lord, find a home. A godly woman, to love on this woman-child
and her baby.."

"Do you live in Holland? I used to date a woman that lives in Holland. She used to be a golf pro, now she has started a ministry."

Lord, You are here. We were talking about trick or treaters? This supplier, who stops in randomly to check inventory. On his way out, just making conversation.... 

"She isn't home very often. She is considering a room mate for the basement of her home. We're not dating any longer. She travels a lot."

Lord, You are here. I can think only of her. I have no idea why he is telling me all of this because he doesn't know our prayer, this woman-child's need for a home. My heart is pounding. There are God moments and there is God Present. You are here, in this moment. 

"I have a friend. She mentors a young girl with a baby. They need a home. They need a home in Holland. They need a godly woman to love on them. It's not me. We've been praying, and now, on your way out the door, leaving your work day, you tell me about a woman you stopped dating a couple weeks ago in the middle of a conversation about trick or treaters last night." God is here. "I am with you..."

"Can I call her? What is her name?"

"I will call her. You pray."

Yes, we will pray. "Have a good weekend. Let me know if we can contact her."
"I will. You pray."

Lord Jesus, You are with me. In this moment. This is not head knowledge. My heart is aching. Ready to burst wide open. Lord, hear our prayer. Provide. Love. And a home, for a young girl chasing after You.  

Psalm 37:3-5 Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

Kiss the Rain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so6ExplQlaY

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the gift of beautiful music. This must be just a glimpse of
what we will hear when we see you face to face.

Vintage Lace

 

I absolutely love vintage white lace...The fresh,clean, white cotton, and lacey patterns draw me to it everytime.  As, I was ironing this beautiful oval tablecloth, preparing it to sell at Cozy Cottage Blessings, I would notice every once a while, a tiny stain where someone had accidentally dropped something .

 

Oh well, I thought, I love it anyway.

I overlooked it, of course, because compared to the graceful, elegant fabric, the stains were practically invisible, especially if you chose not to see them. It caused me to think about how Jesus sees me because of the Cross.  Sparkling clean and white, free of stains and wrinkles. Beautiful. 

 

It took a long time, a lot of hard work and patience to iron out all of those wrinkles, especially in the lace, and, no matter how many times I went over it, as I moved it along on the ironing board to the next section, the wrinkles would very subtly show themselves, and the tiny stains had not come clean either.

 

God has been working on me a long time. And sometimes the iron has been so hot...but, He just keeps gently pressing and looking the other way. He's like that, you know. It doesn't matter the size of my stains or the depth of my wrinkles, He just sees me as He sees His Son, through the eyes of grace.

 

Beautiful.

 

 

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 2Cor. 4:8-11 

"I think I'll take this painting class!"

Just a word of advice, (even though it turned out to be one of the most memorable times ever!) you may want to investigate a little before registering and paying for something, for example,like where, exactly, the place is located? When it says "North Michigan", that doesn't necessarily mean Traverse City, somewhere south of the bridge... it might actually mean, "almost to Copper Harbor"!

You see on the left of the "finger" shaped part, where it says, McLain State Park. Now, look in the middle of the "finger", that's Lake Linden. McLain is the park where I camped, and the painting class was in the town of Lake Linden, just a few hours from home! lol

So, if you're wondering what sort of painting class could possibly be worth taking a vacation for, check out Heather Anderson's blog, www.postroadvintage.com  and you will get a glimpse of just how worth it it was to go a few miles out of the way! Below are a few pics of the painting class at Heather's last Saturday! I had an amazing time with her and her family and friends! Hoping to make it again next summer!

     The shelf and coat rack was a project we all made and learned the different techniques and types of paint for repurposing small projects and/or furniture. There was also a pile of scrap barn wood for everyone to get creative with, and we were encouraged to bring our own pieces as well. Which, of course, I have a few of!

             

The window is one of the pieces that I brought along. It is the protype of a new ministry I am starting in hopes of raising the funds needed for a child to have a second chance, and to have her life restored, at Abba's House www.abbashousetc.com.

Abba’s House is a center of mercy and refuge, a safe place for young adults and families to be healed and restored.

My trip to Ghana a few years ago, opened my eyes to the reality of child sex traffiking under the guise of a religious curse. But, here in the United States, and even right here in West Michigan, it is not about a cultural religious belief, it's about horrific abuse and broken families.  After learning about Abba's House, and the impact the Lord is having in the lives of these traumaticly troubled young girls and boys, God put on my heart the idea of  "Windows of Hope". (more to come in my next blog)

There may have been a few garage sales along the way!!

Manistique Lighthouse

 

If you are receiving this in your email and you want to see the pics on the blog, you can go to www.everywhereGrace263.blogspot.com

Thanks for following!

  





http://youtu.be/jesMvq6TPbg

Thank you, Jesus.

By your wounds we are healed.

Mighty is the Power of the Cross.

We love You.