The Conditions of Our Hearts

We are inundated with choosing one thing over the other. In an average day, choices need to be made and I believe it's our truest character that truly wants to put a good foot forward; to treat others the way we want to be treated and to show goodness and kindness towards everyone. These are the intentions that we begin our days with...But, what happens when the chaos of the day takes its toll on us and we no longer want to treat others fairly? What are we to do when turning the other cheek only feels good in theory? Or when you'd rather pamper yourself instead of offering kindness to others? What happens when you don't want to read your Bible or drive 20 minutes for another Church event? What about when you don't want to pray anymore or when you are sick of Christian platitudes? What happens when your gut feeling tells you to do the exact opposite of everything you know is pleasing to the Lord or when you the thought of giving one more hug or making one more apology leaves you irritated and annoyed? Believe, there comes a time in each of our days when we'd rather just take care of us. We don't always feel like taking the high road and our hearts are often satisfied with "doing good unto me". It's human. It's natural. But, I'll tell you what should happen, instead... in those moments when we are exhausted of doing the right thing, there we find the life changing opportunity to live out obedience and faith, as a result of abiding in Christ.

See, in our mistaken culture, we are taught to go with what we feel. Music tells us to follow our

hearts and live in the moment.  Books and articles tell us to lean into our intuition or intellects and our friends and co-workers advise us to do whatever it is that makes us happy. We have been conditioned to consider "us" first and to please ourselves. This is contrary to scripture, yet, to our own defense, it all makes a lot of sense to live life that way!  It is the nature of man... to put us first; however, that will never fulfill our Spirits. Being self-centered is selfish and blocks others out, including the Lord. When we are lead by the flesh (that natural instinct that we innately respond to) our decisions will reflect the flesh. We will lie to help ourselves, give in to immoral desires to feed our cravings, we will fall prey to greed and self satisfaction, abandon the need to practice patience or cheat to get ahead. These are the natural responses to our humanity and the condition of our true hearts. The reality is that, without Christ, the compass of our hearts are a little broken and we cannot trust its direction 100% of the time.

When we are faced with those moments where decisions need to be made and action needs to take place- basically every moment of our day- whatever is in us will come out of us. Scripture says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). Essentially, this scripture is explaining to us that we as humans are capable of doing any deed when placed in certain circumstances or situations. No one's heart is above any sin or crime. This is why, as a true and humble Christian, we must have compassion on everyone who wrestles or struggles with any sin, because no one's heart is above any mistake. I am just as prone to murder as the murderer; I am just as prone to adultery as the adulterer and I am just as prone to addiction as the addict. All that is required is the right situation, circumstances and opportunities, and if not rooted in Christ and filled with Him, then we will all fall, over and over again.

Whatever we pour into our hearts is what will come out. If I pour natural wisdom into my heart, if I fill myself with understandings of this world, popular culture and it's opinions, invest in the entertainment that challenges the standards of Christ or if I lean too heavily on my own way and prioritize my personal freedoms, then the actions of my heart will reflect such. But if I am filling my heart with God's word, surrounding myself in environments and activities that are pleasing to Him- if I am filling my life with worship and consuming the wisdom of Christ, then my actions and choices will be reflecting of Him. The key to living a victorious life is abiding in Jesus! I'm not saying that living for the Lord is "easy" or that making spiritual and effective decisions for Jesus comes without a struggle, but what I am saying is that too many of us are putting up a harder fight in our faith because we are not using the appropriate tools. Following our hearts is a 50/50 chance, that we cannot put total trust in. Looking inward, and not upward results in us losing our way and mistakenly making choices that we never intended to make. We are not praying, we are gossiping. We are not reading our Word, we are watching compromising TV dramas and listening to music that is less than glorifying. We are reading magazines that support our flesh, instead of searching the scripture for ourselves. We are entertaining relationships that are pulling us away from the Lord, instead of encouraging us to pursue Him more. So, when it comes time to stand in the fire or when it comes time to make a choice for Jesus, whatever we are putting in us will always be what comes out.

Instead of following our hearts, that may or may not lead us astray, the more successful strategy is to follow Christ- who will never steer us wrong! Living for us only limits us. Our purpose is above mini-skirts and TV dramas. Our lives are beloved by God and His calling over us is intended to flash His glory and overcome the powers of evil in every area of our lives! Sisters, hear me out: You are precious in His sight! Your existence supersedes that of the label that this culture is trying to place on you or the mindset that our world is trying to produce in you! Stand tall in the light of the Love of our Savior! You have been chosen to be a beacon in this dark world! You have been called to live a life that is called out. When others are tripping in the dark, Christ has blessed you with His salvation to offer a lamp to those who are falling! But in order to be effective Christians for Christ, we have to live out our faith, not just talk about it. We have to prove it everyday, with the way we live, the conversations we partake in and the relationships and activities we invest in. If we truly belong to Christ, we must constantly abide in Him and put our faith in him, and not ourselves. In so doing, we are better equipped to set the example for those who are watching us, proving our faith is legitimate and true!
This is a call to remind us all that we are living for something and Someone greater! Our hearts suggest only temporary resolutions, providing minimal satisfaction that we may or may not regret afterwards. Abiding in Christ and living for the Lord is a guaranteed measure for peace and confidence on a daily basis. If we keep our eyes and heart on Him, then He will fill us and use us for His glory! He will prove to the world, through us, that He is all that they need!

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
-John 15:4-5

Let's live a life of Faith that Proves the Love of Christ!

~Pearls

No More "gods"!

There comes a time in everyone's life where they must choose: What to major in, what job to take, what church to join, what man to marry, what "god" to follow...
In this life, there are so many choices, so many "gods". In Greek Mythology, there were 13 Olympians and 48 minor gods and goddesses, including 9 Muses and the 3 Fates. I took a course in ancient world cultures, as a sophomore in college, and I remember being completely fascinated and overwhelmed by all of the deities associated with the Greek and Roman Empires. Each was responsible for a certain element of happiness or human fulfillment. There was the "god" of love, the "god" of wealth, a "god" of power, a god of "crops" and even a "god" of fertility. Each promised to provide a certain aspect of happiness, yet it always came with a price. Their beauty and lure was undoubting, yet not one of them could ever compare to the majesty of our true and living God! His love supersedes that of any other identity. He expounds beyond the comprehension of man, because he was never made by man.
The Bible does an impeccable job of describing our most beautiful and glorious God:

For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and forever...
~Ps 100:5

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
~2 Corinthians 3:18

And in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
~Revelations 1: 13-16

How resplendent is our God?! His entire being is beautiful, because He is truth! His word is ablaze with fire from heaven and His love is all consuming- offering life and promise and hope to all who would only accept Him. His very being is grander than the cosmos and His Spirit is an unrestrained expression of His heart. Yet, inspite of this, we tend to be more drawn to the one-dimensional "gods" of our own creations.

Yes, believe it or not, polytheism is very much alive and well in our modern day, Westernized culture and we give our true worship away to the wrong entities. It may seem far fetched, but if you take the time to trace your own desires, there you will find your "god" at the root of it all. They are very much apart of our culture, although we've given them different names. They gloat among us, disguised as ambition, and in some cases...it's hard for us to tell the difference.
We worship self, as if we are immortal.
We worship money, foolishly putting our trust in what will inevitably run out. We worship the opposite gender, mistaking the trammels of sex as perennial love. We worship our homes, our cars and our clothes, and our beauty- forgetting that everything will one day rust and tear. We worship celebrities and their fading glamour, only to be let down by their humanity and inevitable failures, and we worship our intellect and degrees, to no avail, because they can never truly help us over come all the trials and lessons of life.

As we turn from one "god" to another, the overwhelming relentless love of the One and Only true and living God inundates us, calling us back to remember who He is and who He will always be! He has a calling and a purpose for each of us, yet we fail to hear His voice among all the tiny voices that we allow ourselves to be distracted by. Instead of seeking Him, we seek ourselves. Instead of glorying in Him, we often tend to trade His eternal state of grace, fulfillment and joy, for that of temporary, handmade happiness. I've recognized this in my own life at various points. To say the least, it is an embarrassment that none of us will ever fully overcome, until that day when Christ returns. Yet, in our weakness, He is made strong (2 Corinthians 12:9) and His mighty love continues to pursue us!

When we finally understand the magnitude of God's love for us, the other "gods" will loose their control, because we will begin to recognize that our fulfillment is found only in The Lord. Chasing after these "gods" is only our limited attempt to fulfill our own happiness. We think that success, relationships, self-preservation and other attempts will hold the power to erase our longing; but a spiritual void can never be fulfilled by carnal measures. If we are to experience the fulfilled life, we must seek after the fulfiller of all life! His ways are not our ways and so His plans for us go beyond our mere lusts for happiness; God wants to fulfill our lives with joy- a spiritual state of being, that no one and no happenstance could ever take away or replace.
Happiness is an emotion. It  evolves and devolves based on our current circumstances. When things go well, we are glad; but when things go wrong (beyond our control, plans or expectations) we loose hope and heart. Yet God's gift of everlasting joy, through Jesus, is not a gift that fades; it fulfills. It extends beyond our existence and further than our circumstances, and He is the only God that can ever provide this for us.

As we embark on a new week, it is my prayer to live more purposefully in the promise of eternal joy, which comes from our God who will never fade, fall or forget. He has made me an everlasting promise to love me, to set my feet on a successful path and to hold me up above my enemies and give me eternal life of which my spirit will never die... yet, all it takes is a seemingly disappointing moment in my day to take my eyes off of His face. When will we ever learn? What will it take for us to allow the truth of our salvation to be permanently implanted within our hearts? How long will we remain in a repetitive circle of chasing after our own created "gods" in order to generate a counterfeit happiness and fulfillment? The time has come for us to take revenue of our lives and make a choice concerning who we will follow and what we will pursue. Happiness has its place, then its gone.
I want God's joy, that can never be duplicated or lost. I want the fulfillment of His promises that were set in place before the first star ever flickered. I want a relationship with my Heavenly Father- who never goes back on His word and who never leaves me disappointed. I'm confident to believe that you want the same things as well. Nothing can hold us back... except for our man-made "gods". It's time to put them to rest! It's time to put our trust in Jesus!

Dear God,
I've made several attempts to fulfill myself with my own man-made "gods". I've tried to acquire happiness in my own way, despite it's temporary flair. But I realize that unconditional joy and true fulfillment only comes from you! I need you to fill me up with your fire, a renewed passion for your spirit and for  your word! I need your love, your glory and the beauty of your Son to take a permanent residence within my soul. I trust in you alone. There are no other gods... not any more. There is only you, and in your presence, I am made whole. Love of God, overflow and permeate on my soul. Amen.

No more "gods", girls.

~Pearls 

QUEEN over the DRAMA!

This week has been one of the most trying weeks for some of the girls and I. We have gone through new jobs, relocation, confrontation in the work place, loss of family members, fall out with a friend, sickness, school stress and major life changes... the week just seemed to regenerate drama after drama. Some changes have brought tears, others have brought on frustration or much needed long naps. But at the end of the day, wouldn't it be nice to push the pause button on life...even for 2 minutes? our instincts say to evade trouble, struggle and drama, but is that really the key to a happy and joyful life?

To be honest, trouble is not always a punishment.  A sad misconception is that once you become a Christian, once you give your life to Christ, and begin to live a "good" life, then your problems will go away. This, unfortunately isn't true. Many people are shocked when they experience the negative effects or consequences in life, despite their faith in Jesus. Yet, Jesus told us (warned us, even) to be prepared for the troubles of life. He didn't want us to be caught off guard when we experienced disappointment, unfair treatment from others, heart breaks, loss of jobs, confusion within our families, stress at work, conflicts within our friendships, misunderstandings with our spouses...In this life, we will have trouble.
Think of it as the "Spice of Life"! Issues come to shake us up, to grab our attention and sometimes... just to give us a good story to tell on how we can triumph, how we are stronger than we think we are and how good our God truly is! Running from the madness just allots for a boring existence. Drama and troubles each have their place. It's up to us to determine how we will respond to it: will we allow it to hinder us or define us?  Will we learn lessons from it and overcome the challenge, or just let the drama defeat us and send us home crying and disarmed? The choice is always ours...and there is always a choice.

So, what is the cure to end the craziness of life? What should we do when the drama won't stop?
The first thing we must recognize, is that drama is a part of life. It will NEVER go away. In fact, drama is like a master of disguise, it hides itself in different forms, but underneath every encounter, it is really the same old thing- it is just the issues and trials of life that Jesus promised we would have.

"In this life, you will have trouble, but do not fear, for I have overcome the world"

                                                                                                                    -Jesus Christ (John 16:33)

If I could be so bold as to translate Jesus' statement into a modern day quote, it might make more sense to say it as such: 

"Don't freak out when drama happens. Stay cool, cuz I'm here and I will be your champion".

I love that word, "champion", because it's pact with loads of power and the perception it invokes is that of a universal winner! For whatever reason, I tend to associate a champion with a  boxer, like Muhammad Ali. He really was the greatest. There are some greats that have followed after him of course, but they all had the heart and desire to be a champion. When  a fighter gets into the ring, he isn't afraid to get hit. He doesn't wonder "why me" when he gets punched or kicked. He takes the blows and the punches and perseveres until he wins. Jesus is the same. He is our champion, he is fighting the battles for us. In fact, when we feel as if we are the one's getting hit and pushed and kicked, it really isn't us at all- it's Jesus who is taking the blows on our behalf. The drama is not personal; its spiritual. Here is a scripture to explain what I mean:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and agains the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." -Ephesians 6:12

When we go through the drama- when trouble won't let up and we cannot escape; when people are hurtful for no seemingly good reason, understand that it's not necessarily us that is the target, most times. The truth is, drama comes as an attack or distraction to our growth and faith. Even now, as I write this, I am reminding myself of that very truth. This is just an attack; it's spiritual warfare, it is not personal. Sometimes, it can be hard to believe that, especially when you are going through trying times. But scripture is clear that trouble and conflict arise from the spiritual realm, and we know that dark forces have only one agenda: to attack Jesus. We are mearly the innocent by standers, caught up in the war against holiness and evil. Yet we know that our God wins! He is the champion, so we need not fear or worry or freak out! Jesus has overcome the world!

When we face drama, instead of sulking or complaining, we have to be sure to rejoice and be thankful! And that's crazy, I know! How in the world can we rejoice when our job is being threatened? Or how can we rejoice when that co-worker keeps spreading lies about us? How can we rejoice when we have to move everything out of our apartment in 4 days, all by ourselves, because everyone else is at work and cannot help us? Where is their room for rejoicing and thankfulness when a friend completely abandons us or when we've suffered the shock of losing a loved one? And who can find time to rejoice after an unexpected surgery or when you must stay 4 hours late after work to catch up for the next morning, only to go home to barely put dinner together, clean the house and submit your college assignment on time???? I'm exhausted from just thinking about all of this, but this is the sort of week Pearls have had in their personal lives, and I'm sure you may have even had more hectic drama than ours. But the point is to understand that drama, trouble, trials and tribulations- they are all able to make us or break us. My prayer is that they make us...make us into better believers, into more faithful followers, prayer warriors, trusters of God, women of effective faith and perseverance.

"Consider it pure joy, brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything... Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him." -James 1: 1-4 &12

How insightful to consider trouble as a worthy cause- as an opportunity for maturity! When we withstand trouble, and not run from it, we will be perfected and even more so, we will win a crown! That's an awesome deal! The one who endures the drama will be the one who receives the blessing. We can be Queens over the Drama! We have the upper hand! We can do this! In fact, we can do ANYTHING because we have Christ within us! We have the advantage, because drama won't catch us off guard. The Bible has prepared us to understand that drama is not personal, it's spiritual, and we know that if we persevere, there is a crown waiting on us!!! How amazing is that? No need to fear the drama anymore! Let's allow our light to shine! Let's handle drama like we know what we're doing! When the drama won't stop, neither will we!











Remember, you can be QUEEN over the Drama!
Take heart.

~Pearls

Believe. Pray. Persevere.

I am desiring something. It's a gift that only God can give. Like a whisper or a secret, only He knows about this; only He has the power to give me what I need.
It's a frustrating, yet beautiful dilemma  to be in such  a position where your needs can only be met by

the Lord. When the dreams within our hearts seem to begin to unravel, our instincts, degrees and friends cannot console us or provide an answer and we are forced to become desperately dependent on Him. As I've stated before, it's a frustrating, yet beautiful dilemma to be in.

In such a case, I am reminded about Hannah in scripture, who's hopes seemed to continue to unravel all around her. Hannah, as the Bible teaches, had a very special dream and wanted a very special gift... a child! In her culture, to be childless was assumed to be cursed. She so desperately wanted a son or daughter, but the years kept rolling by, with nothing to show for it.  All around her, it seemed as if women were being blessed with children. Her husband didn't understand. Her family despised her. She had a deep desire that could only be fulfilled by God, and even when she was mocked for her faith, she continued to believe. She was scolded, made fun of and ignored by those around her because of her belief that God could answer her prayers and fulfill her dreams, yet she stayed faithful (1 Samuel, chapter 1).

Have you ever been in such a position? Have  you ever believed in a promise before you had confirmation of it? Have you ever had a hope so deep seeded in your heart, that tears spring forth at the thought or mention of it? Then you understand Hannah, and you understand me. We, dear friends, are full of desires and hopes and each one is pricelessly precious to our God!
Sometimes, the space between our hopes and our reality can feel as if it will suffocate us and cause us to shatter from within. We strive, yet see no results. We ask, yet the answer seems to never come. We pray, but feel ineffective. So what do we do? Like Hannah, we cry- we cry out to God, who is always present and always loving. He cares so much about our yearnings, our disappointments, our frustrations and our dreams. He is the visionary who plants each dream seed within each of our hearts, so it's safe to say that God does understand. Our hopes and aspirations are not random or accidental, they are purposed and they are ordained- not to fulfill us, but to reveal who He is in us. In our limitations to realize our dreams, we have a Heavenly Father who exhaled the galaxies into existence. From the breath of this Spirit, He created you and he created me... do we now then limit Him in His abilities to open doors or tear down walls because we are not seeing results in our timing? Where is our faith?

Scripture tells us in Psalms that God is aware of our yearnings and our tears (Ps. 56:8). He recognizes our drive to do and to be and to create. We are made in His image... when we dream, we are operating in His likeness. He is THE Creator... His imagination is what causes the universe to glow! His thoughts are far above ours and His ways cannot be compared (Isaiah 55:8)! So it is safe to say that He understands, but whats more, He truly cares.
We must learn to trust our loving God with our hopes and desires, our dreams and our aspirations; not  throwing in the towel because we have run out of options or ideas- not buckling down when we see others around us becoming successful as we are still struggling to figure out our place. To every moment under the sun, there is a specific and appointed time, yet reward waits for those who choose not to give up (Galations 6:9)!

Hannah prayed through her frustrations, seeking God to deliver this gift that she so desperately wanted. She persevered in her pleading. She did not loose hope; and at the right time, she gave birth to a son who became one of the pillar leaders in all of Israel. Even today, he is still honored. Samuel's legacy began from Hannah's simple dream, hope and prayer.

In each of us, there is a gift, a ministry, a calling, a purpose and a plan that God has strategically placed in our hearts. What's so amazing is that there are more than one! Our God is not one dimensional... He wants to use you in multiple areas, in multiple ways and with multiple people. The dreams you have, they have been placed within you in order that you may have the desire to realize the calling that He has upon your life. Don't toss them away because things aren't working out the way you imagined. Instead, give it to God... just like Hannah! She cried out... she stayed consistent and persistent. When women around her bore children, she poured her heart out to God. When people assumed she was cursed and would never see her dream fulfilled, she trusted in the Lord. God wants us to do the same. He wants us to rely on Him for the realities of our dreams. He wants to be our source in making our goals come into fruition. He wants to use your situation as a platform to declare His Love, His power and His goodness! What an honor!!!

Next time, when you feel ready to throw in the towel, instead, give your frustrations to God. Tell Him  of your plans, your hopes, your disappointment and of your determination. Ask Him to help you. He will!!! Each of us who belong to God, have the power of the Holy Spirit living within our hearts. There is NOTHING that we cannot do, in Jesus name (John 16:24)! Our dreams are a gift that God wants to open up within us. Never doubt His ability to do so.
Believe. Pray. Persevere.

Never give up!
~Pearls