This last week our young ladies got to spend the day with the Women of Hope learning how to cook a delicious Chili. During this time of fellowship and teamwork, the Women of Hope shared with each of the girls words of wisdom and insightful pictures into how things were different when they were young. It was a fun day and enjoyed by everyone, as we ate the fruit of our labors and got to build relationships with one another. 
Thank you Women of Hope for such a wonderful afternoon!
This past week our sheep experienced the removal of their woolley winter coats. It was a learning experience for us all as we watched them get shorn by the capable hands of Isaac Matchett, a fourth generation shepherd. We are so thankful for him sharing his wisdom about how to further care for our small flock.
After the wool was removed we were very excited to see the evidence of our ewes pregnancies. Our ram, Sampson, had his pride taken down a few notches from this event. He was shaved and put back in the pen looking smaller and very bare (though we must say he has gotten his confidence back since them and has resumed trying to prove himself to us as King of the sheep pen).
We learned a lot through this experience but one poignant, and slightly painful thing that stuck out was the correlation between the shearing of our sheep and how the Lord shears us through the pruning process as outlined in John 15. You couldn’t help but feel a slight pang while watching the sheep and thinking about the humiliation of having our ”coats” of pride, shame, fear, and other issues of the heart shaved off the by the capabale hands of our Shepherd Jesus. Yet it is a reminder of just how gentle his hands are when he is cutting away from us all that hinders growth and maturity. Thank you Isaac for being an example for us and reminding us how our good shepherd cares for his sheep through the process of “shearing.”
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
John 15:1-2; NIV
Reflecting on the sacrifice of the Lord and His death and resurrection this past Easter has brought to mind the reality of what it means to be “alive in Christ.” His cross was a place of utter devestation that has become of symbol of new life and rebirth from situations that the world calls impossible. Only Jesus can turn places of devestation into something beautiful.
Here at Abba’s House we daily are expierencing Jesus’ ressurection power as we witness lives and hearts changed. We are witnesses that Christ is risen, fully alive and active today! We praise Him because His death has made a way for all peoples to live free in Him. It is amazing to be a part of His work to see individuals encounter the truth that because He lives, we can live. What joy it brings when our residents get the revelation that living in Christ does not just limping along but running free and completely restored! Nothing is impossible for God!
This past we began construction on our hoop houses, greenhouses that extend our growing season that are movable. We had an instructor come and teach us the basics of building one then residents and staff got hard to work putting them together. In the last few days we have been working on constructing various parts of the skeletal structure to the houses. Throughout this process our residents are getting to experience first hand a construction project but are also getting some life skills training These hoop houses will benefit our gardens, Ark seeds, and provide a learning environment for both staff and residents alike. Keep an eye out on our blog as updates are posted on this project.
Many thanks to Craig for coming and teaching us how to construct the houses and exhorting our residents through God’s Word as well!
It’s about that time again! Work in our greenhouse has began again with soil blocks being made as well as spinach, tomatoes, and lettuce, being planted. Our greenhouse is in full swing and the garden beds are already being prepared for spring planting. We also have another project that our residents will be involved in, making hoop houses to increase our growing and harvesting seasons. Before we know it we’ll be harvesting tomatoes, peas, and green beans for seed preservation and canning. Our residents get to participate in being a part of every stage of the process in planting, caring for, preserving, and harvesting what we grow in the greenhouse. This is a wonderful opportunity for our residents to learn a lost art of preservation, and sustaining a sucessful garden. This is accomplished through a hands on horticulture class that counts toward high school credit at our boarding school, Hope Academy.
This week our residents got to enjoy some time with the “grandmothers” of Abbas House. The Women of Hope came and brought with them a sweet treat that we got to decorate together. As part of our lifeskills we do a lot of baking and work in the kitchen but this one took the cake literally! Our girls, staff included, got to learn how to decorate a creative dessert called cake pops.
Yet more importantly than the sweet treats that grandmothers usually provide, the girls got to experience a wonderful time of fellowship, fun, and encouragment from these amazing women. Thank you Women of Hope for sharing with us the many ways that the Lord is answering prayer in your lives and for pouring love into our residents!
Starting Friday night through Saturday we have gotten almost two feet of snow! The entire landscape has been transformed into a winter wonderland, providing plenty of play time for both residents and staff this weekend. This snow has brought much joy to us this weekend providing ample time for play. Adventures into a now white world have taken place such as snow shoeing, sledding, shoveling, and snowmen.
One of the crowning sculptural achievements that have taken place this weekend are a giant snowman and snow-lady that our residents have built. These have been affectionately named after our executive director and president.
Once again Gordon’s Food Service has generously sponsored a “change for change drive” for Abba’s House. Over $1300 dollars was raised for Abbas House! This drive helps us in many ways.
We will be able to use these funds to help us with material needs that we have, this is a great relief to us! We are so grateful to GFS and all those who donated for this drive to support the mission and purpose of Abba’s House. You are a part of changing lives!
In January many of our residents participated with TC Christian as a part of their J-term at the Grand Traverse House of Prayer. For two weeks, they learned how to operate in the model used at the International House of Prayer called “harp and bowl”, which is a method of combining worship and intercession together. Since then it has been such a blessing to see the growth in our residents who were a part of it. The fruit of this class has been evident in the excitement, passion, and an increased desire to be a part of what the Lord is doing all over the earth through worship and intercession. Specifically, the equipping and training they received has led to them becoming more active participants in our local House of Prayer GTHOP. We have also
seen our residents gain confidence and step out in courage to pray, sing, or play their instrument.
For many, J-term was a powerful time where the Lord gave them passion, purpose and a vision to run hard after God in the place of prayer and worship. Here are what some of our residents have to say about their experience during J-Term:
“The main thing that J-Term did for me was it taught me how to worship God with my whole life, not just at church. I learned that worship is a posture of my heart. I can worship God with everything I do, as long as I’m doing it for an audience of One.”
“During J-Term God allowed me to sing with confidence despite the fact there were other people around. He showed me that the worship team is an example of unity in the body, how we all depend on one another and only Jesus is the center of attention. No matter the level of skill one has, it’s the heart posture behind the worship that brings glory to God- so it’s ok when I mess up.”
“J-Term was a blast! The best part was quieting myself and just listening to what God was speaking and what He wanted me to sing back to Him.”
“The main thing I got from J-Term is that God has called me to be in the House of Prayer. Before going to J-term I had given up playing the bass guitar for over a year, but when God made a way for me to participate in J-term He told me that I had to play the bass. When I first started I didn’t remember anything about playing, but slowly God brought back everything I had learned previously. Once He did this, I knew that He wanted me to be in the House of Prayer.”
“By participating in J-term, I learned how to be able to play more effectively, but more significantly I learned how to worship better. To me J-term wasn’t just a place to learn Harp and Bowl, it was a place to grow closer to God in new ways.”
Every week our residents participate in a Tuesday night “Jacob generation” set as well as leading us in prayer and worship on Thursday morning chapel. Come and join us at the Grand Traverse House of Prayer on Tuesdays from 4-6 pm to see what the Lord is doing!
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn-shout for joy before the Lord, the King.”
(Psalm 98: 4-6)
We desire to encourage the creative gifts that the Lord has placed within our residents through many different outlets for expression. Currently we have two art classes for our residents. What is fashioned in classes will be sold off our website and in the Mission Market, Hope Chest & More. Our boys are creating survival bracelets, and our girls are working on learning how to do intricate bead weaving. Other art classes that we have had available to our residents have been drawing, mural painting, watercolor painting, dancing, woodworking, sewing, jewelry making, and creating cards and knitting needles (these are sold both on our website and in the Hope Chest & More).
For those that enjoy drawing, in our prayer room during times of worship we have easels and sketch pads for those that would like to worship the Lord through artistic expression. Many of our residents are musically gifted as well. Currently, two of our residents have the honor to taking piano lessons . A group last month had th
e opportunity to learn how to participate in the House of Prayer by attending J-Term with TC Christian. Presently, these residents get to be a part of Grand Traverse House of Prayer serving on a “Jacob generation” set that takes place every Tuesday from 4-6pm exercising their talents in the context of prayer and worship.
The Lord certainly has gifted our residents in many different and creative ways. They all have strong gifts, many of which are in the creative arts. We are thankful for all of our volunteers and the Grand Traverse House of Prayer that have provided classes, training and opportunities for our residents to grow and abound in their giftings.