December 31, 2014

Sparkle for the Savior!

During my first 13 months of marriage, I was purposely unemployed... And I loved it! I exercised and took strolls in the park, took a few classes, kept the house impeccably clean, took day trips to see family and friends. I read books,  ran errands, went shopping and did my hair. I volunteered, I prepared for Bible Study, I had time to spend in devotions and in my Bible, having quiet times with Jesus. Life was easy. It was good.

Four months ago, I was hired with my first job, and boy did my quiet little House Wife life change! For the first time in my life, I experienced true stress. The demands and expectations of a full time job are no joke- let me tell you! I was tired and stretched during the day, only to have to bring more work home, steal 20 minuets to do laundry, vacuum, make dinner and do it all over again the next day. And let's talk about dinner... Before, I would spend 2 hours in the kitchen: chopping up veggies, making sauces, preparing desserts- now I'm mixing up leftovers and making up names for it! So much has changed and I was really beating myself up over it. I felt like I wasn't being as good a wife as I had been before the job. I felt like I wasn't as attentive to my husband. I felt I wasn't being as effective in my Bible Study or in Pearls of Hope, either, and I began to suffer from fear of not being good enough.

This morning, on the last day of 2014, I woke up with that same fear- that I'm not good enough. There have been some decisions that needed to be made within Pearls- important things, and quite frankly, I've struggled with self doubt- "Can I really do another study? Will it continue to be as good as the last one, or as good as the first one? Are all the girls still excited? Will everyone come back?" We've all accepted different rolls in making Pearls a strong and beautiful unit, but there are always those realities that no one can control, no matter how hard you try. I struggle with change and I struggle with being responsible because I don't like to mess up- I hate making mistakes.
See, I've always lived my life too selfishly to ever have responsibilities, and honestly, that's how I like it because there's no risk in messing up. I liked the attachment-free/stress-free liberties that I created for myself in my early twenties. I liked getting up in the mornings....errr, afternoons, without a plan for the day. There was no fear because there were no responsibilities or risk of failure. But God has been moving that mindset out of my life and He is teaching me how to live for Himself and for others, through my marriage and through Pearls of Hope. No, the kitchen might not be spotless everyday, the gas tank might not always be full. I might need to stop what I'm doing to take a phone call from one of the girls or I might have to rub my husbands back instead of doing my hair. Giving up of yourself can be a difficult notion, if you struggle with the sin of selfishness as I do. But you know, im realizing how much happier and fulfilled I am when my life isn't all about me.

The thought of failing frightens me. The idea that my efforts will collapse stresses me out! But even in the fog of fear, I know who is with me! In all that God has lead me to become and participate in, I am thankful, because He is burning selfishness out of me. I love being apart of Pearls of Hope! I am afraid to fail them and I'm afraid to loose what we have created together, but I am eager to grow with them and discover Jesus with them! I love seeing their lives change for Jesus and I love knowing that we trust each other and hold eachother accountable. I love seeing new girls join us and I love learning from them and being inspired by them! I love the questions and the conversations, because it reveals their hunger for the Lord! Even more so, I love being a wife! I love knowing that my existence is a treasure to my husband. I love the fact that we belong to eachother and that our love is pure and sealed by God! I am afraid to disappoint my husband or hurt his feelings in some way, but I am excited to be his partner in life and the mother of his children- one day, and I look forward to creating a legacy with him. I'm learning to love working, as well. It gives me a sense of accomplishment, inspite of my on going fears that I am not really smart enough to be doing this.

No matter where we find ourselves in life, there will always be fear. Fear that we're not good enough, smart enough or brave enough; fear that we can't do it or won't be successful. But in my heart, based on the word of God, I know that the Holy Spirit will equip us for every thing that God has called us to do. We need not fear, because we are so dearly loved by God! If we keep our hearts on Him and if we seek His face, we will not fail, because He loves us!

This new year, I want to live a life above my fears. I want to take responsibility with honor and with confidence! In my prayer time today, I asked the Lord to equip me with His grace to love people and to operate in compassion for others. I asked Him for confidence and faith, determination, joy, perseverance and more humility. I also asked him to replace my fears with His love, so that I may sparkle and shine more brightly for Him!

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us.
- 1 John 4:18-19

Lets live lives of love this new year! Let's live outside of fear, knowing that The love of God shines brighter than any darkness that fear can bring! I want to be fearless for my Savior, don't you? I want to break through the night and share God's love in every area, every responsibility and every relationship that I encounter!

Let God's love sparkle in you!
No more fear!

~Pearls




December 28, 2014

Looking Forward

So, the elation of Christmas has waned away from our stores, tv channels and malls, but not from our hearts. I trust you all were able to enjoy your family and friends as much as I have- focusing on what really matters. One of the beauties about our relationship with The Lord is that our understanding and joy endures beyond the Christmas sales and songs, because we know that our King Jesus doesn't dissapate with the lights or the trees! He is ever present, waiting for instruction from the Father for His second coming, Amen! (Matthew 16:27)

Keeping all this in mind, I did enjoy my family, but sadly, I had to tell my baby brother goodbye today. Actually, he isn't a baby anymore. He stands at 6'2, has a scruffy beard, works for a very lucrative company and sometimes forgets that I am Big Sister! He is my oldest and dearest friend- there is no other like him in my life. He saw me when I was desperately trying to be someone I wasn't. He loved me in my wrecklessness and I loved him in his. We have a strong love bond, as I suppose most siblings have- yet I am continually thankful that our friendship and love goes beyond DNA or experiences- we both love Jesus too. In only one short year, my brother has truly blossomed into a dynamic Jesus follower. What a difficult time he gave us all in College! The choices he made and some of the friends he kept- only the power of God and lots of prayer is responsible for the beauty and success that has finally developed within his life! We are both the products of a praying family!

This past Christmas, and every time I am with my brother, I relish in our time together- laughing, talking, teaching each other about God... It's a special time that I never want to end. It gave me such a happiness to accidently run in on his quiet time with Jesus. In between the jokes and the pranks that he is so famous for, there were many instances where he would walk away from the clatter to find a quiet room and open his Bible to be alone with The Lord! His life is a wonderful testimony of what God can do, and has done in this family.
This morning, as what always happens, I got a lump in my throat at the fact that he would once again get on that plane, fly back to Texas and leave me behind. Even now, I am chocking back tears, because- just being honest- I don't always like the idea that others get all his time or that I can't just drive over to see him. I sometimes feel as if I'm missing out because we are not physically together. So, this morning, while my heart was flooding and my eyes were burning, a very true and sweet thought came to me- Ben will come back soon.

In our walks with Jesus, do we gather peace from the fact that Jesus is coming back soon? Are we anticipating the return of our Savior? Do we long for the day that we will have the opportunity to talk with him, physically, and spend quality time with him- face to face? The tragedy of our society is that, although associated with the term "Christian", our culture soon forgets about Jesus, much as they soon forget about the lights on the trees. But the story of Jesus doesn't end in the manger and it doesn't end on the cross, either! That sweet baby that angels sang about grew up! He became a man. He loved the wreckless, He helped the broken, He challenged the hypocrites and He died for us all- yet He still lives on, by the tremendously powerful love of God, who raised Him from the dead so that our sins could be wiped clean. It is this Jesus who has given His word to us that He will come back soon! The Angels also supported this truth when they reminded the disciples at the ascension of Christ:
 
"They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
- Acts 1:10-11

Our hope for Jesus goes beyond day to day, or year to year. The peace and joy and love that is attempted to be celebrated during the Christmas season can be a regular truth in our lives when we put our trust in Jesus- anxiously waiting for His return while living a life that will make Him proud to come back for us! 

In three weeks, Ben will come back with a special friend of his, whom I am so excited to meet! We will laugh and talk and hug and get Starbucks coffee, as we always do. He and his friend will join my husband and I and some mutual friends for more laughs and talks and fun. I will tell him that I missed him and he will tell me the same. I look forward to that, when all the puzzle pieces of my life will be back together again, at least for a little while.
Seeing Ben get on that plane to leave is painful, but knowing that he will soon board another plane to return makes me glad and helps put Christ's return in a new perspective for me... I want to live a life that is anticipating the return of Jesus, as well! I want to keep my heart and my eyes waiting for the day that He comes back for me and for you, too! Out of all the celebrations and all of the homecomings, His will be the most spectacular and, unfortunately, the most terrifying return ever known to man. Only He won't be returning on a plane, but in the clouds! I want to be in the crowd who is ready and excited to see Jesus and His return, don't you? 

Get ready, girls. Jesus will be back soon!

~Pearls

 

December 24, 2014

Merry Christmas!!!

From our Hearts to Yours, we would like to send a very special, "Merry Christmas", to all of our readers, families and friends! As we gather together with our loved ones, it is so important that we take time to meditate on all the blessings and wonders that The Lord has given to us- starting especially with His Son, Jesus! On Christmas Day, we can be thankful that the greatest miracle was wrapped in human flesh as an eternal gift to all who will believe and obey! Thank you Jesus, for your love and the beauty that your love brings to our lives!

We pray that you all will continue to enjoy the love and happiness of this very special season, finding ways to share the blessings that God have given to you with those around you! Remember, we set aside this time to celebrate the Giver, and not the gift!

Merry Christmas!!!!

~Pearls

December 14, 2014

With Hearts Lifted Up

It's been over a month since the last time we all met together for Bible Study. We believe that, as the holidays approach us, it is important to take time away from each other to enjoy our families, invest in our other friendships, get plugged into our church responsibilities and just rest and enjoy the holiday season. It's a much needed time to refresh and take a break, but I must admit that I have missed our Tuesday meetings and cannot wait to gear back up in January... which is right around the corner!!!

During our break, we have had two opportunities to just hang out with each other and celebrate birthdays. In addition to this, yesterday, we also celebrated our first PRAYER BREAKFAST!!!! It was an amazing idea that evolved from some conversations we all had one evening, via text message. There are just so many needs that our hearts are crying out for: our friends, our unsaved loved ones, our future, our past, our country, each other. We want to grow in Christ, and not go backwards. We want our love to be perfected for the Lord, for each other and for our world. We want to know and experience the presence of God, not just hear about it. We want our lives to be a passionate example of who Jesus is in us and who He can be in the lives of others.

Today, 5 of us came together to pour out our hearts. Some of us cried, some were silent. With hearts lifted up, we confessed hidden sin that we knew would hinder our prayers and our growth in Christ. We prayed for one another, we prayed for our families and we prayed that God would continue to be pleased in our meeting together and in our accountability towards one another. We worshiped the Lord, for His faithfulness, for His love, for His compassion over us. We thanked Him for His goodness and for Salvation in Jesus. We asked Him to make us bright witnesses for His name! It was an amazing time. I know that God's presence entered into that kitchen and the Spirit of the Lord lovingly listened to every cry from our hearts! Scripture says that when we call Him, He will answer us:

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. 
-Jeremiah 33:3

I know this promise of God was answered today. I know that He will answer our prayers to make us more like Him!

Never stop praying. 

~Pearls


December 7, 2014

A Luminous Love

Good Morning World!!!

Happy Sunday! This morning, I would like to encourage all of you in the Lord! I don't know where you might stand in your relationship with Jesus. Maybe you are stronger in your faith than ever before. Maybe you have wondered and are in need to reconnect and rededicate your life; or maybe you are on the fence- not sure if you really want to take the plunge- not sure if it's even worth it. No matter where  you might find yourself this morning, know that the Creator of Heaven and Earth is madly in love with you and is offering you the greatest of all things that will ever be attainable in this life- Love!

How He loves you, my friends! How many eons and galaxies he has created, yet none of them compare to his love for you! His love is luminous concerning you! It irradiates beyond the complexity of any universe His imagination has ever created! He has spent all eternity thinking about  you! The stars cannot amount to the many thoughts that our God has towards  you! Tonight, that is exactly what I would like us all to do... Look up into the sky and try to count all of the stars. Heck, look at your christmas tree and try to count all of the lights. I guarantee you that you will get tired of counting, but Jesus never gets tired of thinking about you. His love is like a brilliant blast of light concerning you. The angels see God's love for us, and shake their heads. They don't understand!

What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
-Psam 8:4-5


Some of you may have never encountered the Love of God. But I promise you, dear ones, it is truly the only reality worth living for. His love is not an imaginary force or energy. It is real. It is tangible and it is life changing! His Love is alive and is more powerful and more detailed than any star that ever was or ever will be. His love shines, ravishingly for you and He wants to shine that Love in your life and in your heart! How amazing!

For more encouragement on this topic, please visit http://youtu.be/LpChZxPfa-c. A site by Francis Chan, on the wonders of God and His amazing Love for us all!!!!

Be blessed and know that you are LOVED!

~Pearls

December 2, 2014

You Are Not Alone

Is it funny that the Michael Jackson song came to my mind as I was trying to decide what to call the title of this post? "You Are Not Alone", the song says.

"Something whispers in my ear and says
That you are not alone
For I am here to stay"

You may not be a Micael Jackson fan, but you have to admit that the words to this song are profoundly familiar to the Words of our Savior: "And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the world."- Matthew 28:20

Was Michael Jackson quoting Jesus... probably not. But it reminds me that we as human beings have a deep seeded desire to find a forever place- to find a love that is eternal. Our culture tells us to try and quench this need with thrills or purchases of different products; date that person or get this job. But none of our efforts ease our longing or desire for a constant and eternal promise. We are still left looking and searching for an "always". But all of our efforts are only temporary. They do not last forever.

I remember being in that place in my life once. I thought having the "right" friends would be my answer. So in order to keep those friends, I had to wear the "right" clothes and go to the "right" parties. I wanted to have  a boyfriend, so I needed to find the "right" guy and look the "right" way. Yet all of my efforts left me feeling more alone than ever before. Despite my career, my degrees, my traveling opportunities, my popular friends and my cool boyfriend, I was still searching for the sense that I was not alone. I was looking for the one who would stay forever. Eventually, I realized that person was Jesus. He had been waiting for me all along.
Our beautiful and loving God has given us the promise of forever in the scriptures. Jesus promised, over 2,000 years ago, that he would be my forever and my always; that I didn't need to search, because He would never leave me. What an amazing comfort! I am reminded again of this promise, made by God, in Deuteronomy 31:8, "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Could it be that in your heart, you hear the Lord whispering to you, "You are not alone"? Could it be that God is calling you and trying to remind you of His promise that He will never leave you or forsake you? In all of us, there are forces pulling us in different directions. There are voices coaxing us to believe truth or lies. But you, loved one, you are more than a conquerer! You ARE NOT ALONE!!! The maker of Heaven and Earth has called you His own! He beacons you to come to Him and rest in Him. And all your wondering and searching...all your closed doors and disappointments, will grow strangely dim in the light of the Love of our Savior! Amen!

I don't know what any of you might be dealing with today. Maybe  you are going through a rough time in your life; maybe a family member is. Maybe you feel that you have lost your way or maybe you feel unsatisfied with your current situation. Regardless of what you're facing or where you find yourself, know that our beautiful Savior loves you! He died for you, just to prove His love for you! He rose again to validate that love for all eternity. He is here to stay and desires to reside in your heart. Let him in! He stands at the door of your heart and knocks, hoping for an invitation to enter in and become your Always!

Open the door.

~Pearls