Rich Girls!

This is for the good girls, the fun girls, the "I don't need a thing" girls! We wear our heels high and our earrings low. We pop bottles to celebrate minuscule things and change relationships out of boredom. Who needs to read scripture? We have our own way of doing things. Our opinions are worth a million bucks! We have our makeup and our magazines, our fun, our rings and our friends! Our bank accounts urge us to spend out of plenty! We have gold to decorate our bodies and education to adorn our minds. 1,000 strangers follow us on IG and the girl next door is no competition for us. We are rich girls! We are legends in our own minds...but we are lacking greatly.

We are a people most poor. We show off our assets and present our lives as prosperous to all our friends on social media, but underneath the name brands and the selfies, the degrees and the business cards, we stand in calamity caused by a lack of wealth that only comes from the Spirit. Our lack of need has resulted in our lack of truth. Our riches and our confidences in our own capability has left us spiritually poor. Our lips are red with plans and suggestions, but our hearts are hollow from a lack of light."Everyone has their own truth", it is declared, yet as a people, we are stumbling in the dark. We are following this teaching and that fad; this person and that new philosophy, only to end up lost along the way. We are told that there is no longer any relevance in God's truth, because God is circumstantial and absolute truth is obsolete. In our high times, we look within, but isn't it funny how tragedy causes our nation to look outward and up in times of need? Why is it that Truth is such a scary thing? People want to avoid it, disclaim it, reject it and excuse it away. They try to find loop holes and exceptions, but why? Simply put, it's because the very essence and origin of Truth is God himself, who is light.

In the book of Mark, Jesus confronts a young man who was a product of his own riches. He claimed to be on the quest for truth and corners Jesus for an answer (Mark 10:17-27). In this situation, the man asks a simple question: "What good thing must I do to receive eternal life?" Scripture tells us that Jesus loved this young man. He knew what laid in his heart and presents the commandments to the young man, who simply disregards them, having felt justified that he had never offended any. He was convinced that his lifestyle was up to pair with God's standards. So Jesus tells the man to sell everything that he has and follow him; this was his way to eternal life. But instead of being excited to do so, Scripture tells us that the young man sadly left. He valued his earthly treasures above the truth. He could not hack it. He didn't just refuse a truth, he refused THE Truth. He turned from Christ, because the call wasn't easy or glamorous.

Looking over this story, it occurs to me that the road to finding the Truth is a quest of self abandonment. There is no glitter or bling. There won't be any neon lights to brag on our arrival or any headlines to announce its value. Accepting God's truth is a trade of charm. It requires not only a curiosity to know, but also a willingness to let go. In order to find God, we must loose ourselves. In order to receive heavenly riches, we must be willing to risk our earthly ones. This can come in the form of laying aside our pride, rejecting our right to be heard, compromising our needs and our wants for the benefit of others', forgiving when it isn't fair and even, at times, admitting to our own short comings, instead of excusing them away.

The Rich Young Ruler held on too tightly to his own sense of perfection, which kept him from knowing the Truth. He did not recognize that his heart was filled with self-righteousness and pride. He lacked humility and faith. In his heart, he carried filthy rags and garments. He depended on himself and not the Lord; not realizing that his self-made riches were really only rags compared to what God had for him. Nothing we can create could ever compare to God's plans for us. The reality, however, is that we must first recognize our need for God's truth in our lives, despite our opinions of ourselves.
Our young friend in this Bible passage failed to recognize his need for what Christ was offering him. He was a hero in his own mind; convinced that he had never done any wrong and unwilling to part with his own efforts of success. The opportunity for a trade was offered to him, in exchange for these rags, but He assumed that he was clean, based on his own understanding. The young man asked for an answer, but when given the truth, he walked away. For him, the truth was just too honest for his comfort. Many of us are like him. We look at what we haven't done, while ignoring what we have done. Welook at what we don't need, while ignoring what we do need. Yet, we all need the Lord, and we all need Truth. We can look at his situation and pity him for it. We could say, "How stupid of him. He could have encountered Heaven!" But the fact is, all of us have walked away from the Truth in one area or another; yet, if we are to encounter God, we must first be willing to not only seek the truth, but accept it.

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."~John 14:6

In each of us, there is a Rich Young Ruler. Some of us are rich in our intellect. Others in our finances or in our relationships. We may be rich in our social status or in our education. But when it comes to knowing God, we must be willing to abandon all those things, in order to receive something greater! The time is coming, has come and will come again, when we must face the Truth of ourselves in the light of God's Word and His Will for us. If we accept His Truth, despite the difficulties and discomfort, the Bible says that a crown of glory awaits for us (2 Timothy 4:8).


In irony of it all, when we are willing to loose our riches, our entitlement and ourselves, all for the sake of Christ, well, we really gain it all back (Matthew 10:39). What seems scary to let go of, or fearful to face, is often times what is required for our progression. The truth, as we know it, is limiting; but trusting in the Truth of who God is and what He wants for our lives is transforming! This is what it really means to be rich, girls! I hope you all receive the Truth within your own hearts, that God's ways are higher than ours, that our treasure should be laid up in heaven and that a crown of glory awaits those who are obedient, faithful and pursue His Truth til the end. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it. It's an awesome trade if you think about it: Riches for Rags!

Let the treasure of Truth shine in you!
~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

Pearls of Hope: A Glimpse at our Tuesday Meetings

Happy Sunday, everyone! As you are preparing for your day, please take some time to check out our latest youtube video! As you watch, you will get a sneak peak of what goes on every Tuesday evening in our Bible Studies! We are extremely excited to share with you our journey with Jesus and we pray that we will be an encouragement to you as you travel through your own path with the Lord!

If you have any questions or topics that you would like us to address, please feel free to add any comments or suggestions! We are here to support you and each other! Remember, Jesus has HUGE plans for you! You are not alone and we love you!

~Pearls

Is Christianity Still Relevant?

abc.go.com

Last Thursday, a crowd of comments swarmed Facebook regarding the topic of religion vs spirituality after a post was uploaded featuring women co-hosts on ABC's The View. In the video clip, the stars discussed on the morning talk show their personal opinions, acceptance and reactions of modern day religion and the path to God. Raven Symone, America's sweet heart and child star from the Cosby Show and Disney's That's So Raven show, made some rather interesting remarks in regards to her personal beliefs and opinions on the matter:

"Every religion has it's time and place and then we start evolving [as a human race]...I have a personal rejection to religion itself, but spirituality is through everybody, no matter what God you praise to."

abc.go.com

She also states on the show that she was focusing her lifestyle on New Age montras, light and energy. Her words were said with such confidence and the crowd gave a roaring applause, but I wonder, within the inner being of her own heart, is Raven, along with the others in our world, truly satisfied with the condition of their souls? Or are they, like many, on the search to find fulfillment within their own means? And if so, is the debate to convince themselves or those around them?

Scripture tells us to be careful of false teachings or of words that lure us into self-gratification..."tickling ears" is what the Bible calls it:

"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."
~2 Timothy 4:3

There is no doubt that we are in such an era, where people willingly reject what is true and sound in exchange for what is comfortable and for what allows them to maintain a certain lifestyle without responsibility for God's word. Everyone feels they have their own personal path to God, yet scripture is very clear that there is only one way to the Father, and that is through Jesus, His son!

"And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life and this life is through His Son. Whoever has the Son has eternal life, whoever does not have the Son does not have life" ~1 John 5: 11-12

The next day after this video was posted on Facebook, the girls from Pearls of Hope had a very riveting discussion on the matter. Here are some of the comments they shared:

"I understand there may be people in the world who profess Christ but they are not setting the best examples and it's unfortunate, but people have been rejecting him since he came into the world. That's a choice. You are choosing not to believe, don't blame the next person and use them as the representative for the entire body. Try him for yourself." - Brittany

"It bothers me that all of those ladies seemed to try to make excuses for the world and themselves and blame it on religion for the reasons they're conforming to this "new age"...(people) think they are saved because they believe in God or his existence but then choose to live their own way because they don't know what's required of them because they're not seeking God and his kingdom and staying glued to his word!" -Amanda

"Although people like her make me sad, I feel like they just need the right experience to change their whole perspective. There is still hope for her and those with that mentality as long as they are breathing. We really have to pray hard for them."- Ariel

In a nut shell, no matter who you are or what you've heard or what you've read, God's word must be the source of our lives and the means by which we make our decisions, because He is God. If He says it, we know it is truth, because God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19). Yet, our society defies the very nature of God by rejecting His word and clinging on to their own intellect, opinions and views. And worse, they demand that we, those who belong to God and are called of Christ, to assimilate ourselves with their perspective and their views, expecting us to quietly "respect" their life choices, while they openly reject ours. It is a difficult condition that the Christian has found themselves in: to boldly proclaim Christ to a world who has rejected him, or silently disagree in our hearts for fear of being rejected ourselves. Yet scripture tells us that they will reject us- well... not really us, but the Spirit of Christ who lives in us (Matthew 10:22). 

If we are to be effective Christians, we must not align ourselves with the world in regards to things that are contrary to the Bible. In love, we must allow the courage of the Holy Spirit to raise up within us and declare, "No. This is not right. There is only one way and there is only one path, and this is through Jesus!"

The women on The View, regardless of their personal opinions, each have a soul that is precious to God. But I wonder how many of them truly understand the Gospel message? How many of them, in their own power and in their own attempt at goodness, are trying to pave their own path, despite the fact that God has already paved one for them and for us all? The issue isn't Spirituality vs. Religion...even the Devil and his demonds are spiritual! Religion is man's own attempt at righteousness, which we know is disgusting to God (Isaiah 64:6). So the question then isn't spirituality or religion...The real question is, Do you want a relationship with God or not? If you do, it's only possible through Jesus! All other attempts, forms, beliefs or traditions will not make the cut. It's only through him that we are reconciled to God. This is the way of God. Any other route leads away from Him, away from His light and away from His kingdom.

Here are more scriptures on the matter:

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

1 Corinthians 2:14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 4:8 So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

Romans 1:20 For God's invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has eternal life; whoever does not have the Son does not have life!

We invite you to watch the clip and to share your thoughts, comments and questions with us! We'd be happy to pray with you or explain God's plan of salvation with even more detail with you! Please know that, no matter where you are in life, you will never go too far that God can't reach out and bring you to Himself!

Our prayers go up for you and for all those who are still searching!

~Pearls

Growing in our Faith!

After an entire month off, the girls and I jumped right into our first night back with our 6th Bible study! It's been an amazing two years and the thought that we have completed 5 full studies is an accomplishment that testifies to the work and change that God has developed and is continually developing within our hearts!

One by one, 9 girls began to pour into our little living room, smiling and laughing and so excited to start this fresh new series! We enjoyed Mexican food for Cinco de Mayo, welcomed a new visitor, hugged and prayed and prepared our hearts for this new adventure! Despite the sacrifices we each make to meet so regularly, once we are all together, it doesn't even seem to matter. Our purpose is beyond just "hanging out". We meet not just to be near friends, but to be near the Lord and encourage each other along the way. In our existence as an organization, each study has prosed a challenge, which we have been able to meet, head on, because we do it together!
This study, different from the last four, takes us back into in depth and personal scripture submersion, just like our first study, which we completed in 2013. Although the studies we experienced in between were very beneficial to our growth in Christ and accountability amongst each other, our current study will be different in that it goes back to the basics and fundamentals of living for Christ and helps us define the imperative question: "Why do we Believe what we believe"?
Last night, several of the girls expressed having a faith in Jesus that they struggle explaining to others. They felt as if they lacked a confidence in articulating what a life in Christ is all about, why they do (or don't do) certain things and how they could help others along the way in their pursuit of God. How brave are they!!! How many of us struggle within our own insecurities and even unbelief or lack of faith when it comes to witnessing, explaining or evangelizing for the Gospel? If we can be honest, there are moments or have been moments for all of us where we have found ourselves in conversations at work or with unsaved friends or family members and feel "stumped" in a conversation or when asked a question about our faith, we struggle to provide an answer.
So what is the solution? How can we equip ourselves to grow stronger in our faith, become more confident in living for the Lord and articulate the relationship we have in Christ with others who are curious? The answer isn't in going to Church more or defining a feeling or extending our opinions. There is no power in that. The solution to the problem of faith, lack of faith or gaining more faith is not positive thinking or the repetition of affirmations; it's only through the influence of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God! That is where faith and power, assurance and confidence, boldness and determination in Christ comes from. We can never do enough, change enough on our own, or know enough information to duplicate the work of the Holy Spirit! His presence and power is manifested through God's word, which we must learn to hide in our hearts, if we ever hope to live a life that is Spirit led and pleasing to God.

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of God." ~Romans 10:17

This new study, Growing Strong in God's Family: A Course in Personal Discipleship, is a tool that we will use to submerse ourselves in the Word of God, allowing His Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts and strengthen our faith! It is only through Him that we can obtain the power we need to live effective lives for Jesus. Without the influence and leading of the Spirit of God, we are nothing more than librarians with lots of head knowledge. His presence and active working is what moves Truth from our heads and plants it within our hearts! Please join us in prayer for a renewing of our faith and a personal experience in the Lord, as we begin our 11 week adventure!

Stay tuned for more updates and keep the Faith!
~Pearls

Loving God through People

Last week, my husband and I flew to Texas to visit my younger brother. Coming from North Carolina, I was very excited to get the big city feel of Dallas and explore all the local attractions! We went to the JFK museum, visited countless restaurants and of course the highlight of any important trip...the Mall!!!*
It was such a beautiful time. I don't get to see my brother as often as I'm accustomed to, since he's moved so far away. All I really wanted was to relax, have fun with him and enjoy his friends and my husband. In my mind, this trip was about getting away and enjoying myself with people that I love.
Of course, the Lord had other lesson plans for me!

On the night before Easter, we were driving back to my brother's place after eating an enormously unbalanced, but extremely delicious, dinner. We had so much food, it was unnecessary. We laughed and ate and joked loudly... we were people without a care in the world. Upon leaving the restaurant, we were stopped at a red light, and typical of most large cities, there was a homeless man standing on the corner, holding his sign. It was a cool night, but the man had on only a dingy T-shirt. He paced around, as if to combat the chilling night air and would not look up at any of the cars. His sign was hard to make out, but, in my mind, it was the typical, "Homless, please help. God bless" sort of sign. In my heart, I had no pity. To me, he was just "another homeless guy".
He was fairly young and decent looking. What had he done to put himself in that situation? Probably wasted his life on bad choices, is usually the assumption. Maybe he's on drugs, or maybe he's addicted to alcohol; maybe both. Maybe he dropped out of school or maybe he's just lazy... Typical responses and an attitude that really reflects the lack of compassion that has choked away at our culture, as a whole.

In the few seconds it took to wait at that stop light, I had already cast judgement on this person, based upon the stereo types that halo around our Homeless population. It never even occurred to me that he might actually need help. It's been wired, at least in my mind, that giving money might result in a person spending it on their addiction and not on a need. I've seen news reports of "Millionaire-Homelessness", where people exploit other's good gestures, without really needing it. I immediately dismissed him. Perhaps, being completely honest with you and with myself, I was even operating through self-righteousness.
Before the red light changed, my brother quickly asked me to hand him a bottle of water that he had in the back seat. It was luke-warm and off-branned, with a grocery store label on it. It wasn't money, it wasn't food; it was just water. The man ran up to accept the gift and I smiled, hypocritically, only to feel a shower of shame, as he turned from us and began to wipe his face. It was such a humbling and haunting experience to witness this man crying on the side of the road, over an off-branded, luke-warm, bottle of water. I'll never forget that moment.

Never in my life had I ever witnessed such a brokenness of spirit and a vulnerable disposition as I saw in this man. I immediately was overcome with embarrassment and self scolding. How could I have been so harsh in my thoughts towards him? Aren't I the one praying constantly for God to give me ideas on how I can serve my community? Aren't I the one encouraging the girls in Pearls to give back and come up with ways in which we can volunteer and serve others? Yet, when I saw this man in need, I quickly assumed that he wasn't. I quickly dismissed him; never giving him a chance to begin with. It broke my heart, as we drove away. Yet God used that experience to move my heart as well.
Without giving too much information, that was not the last time we saw that man. We were able to share somethings with him and The Lord really ministered to me, as we ministered to our homeless brother. Regardless of the situations that led him to his present state of being, he is still God's child; created in God's image and created with a purpose and a promise, just like you and just like me. He was humbled and grateful to accept assistance, I was humbled and grateful to have learned a valuable lesson and to see scripture come alive for me that night.

In Matthew, chapter 25, Jesus tells a parable about people one day being confronted with the motives of their hearts. He explains that there will come a day when He will examine our hearts and our deeds and He will turn people away, because they did not love others or show compassion towards those in need. But there will be those whose lives and attitudes demonstrate their love for God through their involvement with others and their compassion to give and to serve, freely and out of love:

36} I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37}“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40} “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Humbly and with great conviction, I admit that there have been instances where I overlooked an opportunity to feed Jesus. I've ignored people who needed my help, not recognizing that it was really Jesus asking me to give of myself. What about you? Have you ever missed out on an opportunity to serve the Savior by loving others? If we are completely honest, the answer to the question for all of us is, "Yes". But here is the beautiful thing, God's mercies are new, every day (Lamentations 3:23)! Every day, we get an opportunity for a fresh start and a new outlook, eagerness and earnestness to do as unto The Lord! In God's amazing grace, through His love in Jesus, we get a second chance to Seize the Day!

As I close, I think about that man in Texas. I think about how I completely messed up, missed the mark and forfeited an opportunity to stretch out my hands in love, instead of withholding them in judgement. My little brother did not. He didn't hesitate to offer what he had, and in so doing, he touched a life while blessing mine. I am a work in progress, like we all are. Yet in my weakness, Christ is made strong! In my humility, His word brings power and conviction and chases away the shadows of my doubt and of my unbelief.

Even though there are those who manipulate the system and prowl on the giving hearts of others, that is not an excuse to eliminate all those in need and place judgement or stereotype anyone; because in reality, it is only by the grace of God that I am not in a similar situation. If it had not been for God's loving kindness, where would any of us be? Our response is to have a willing heart and seek His voice for direction, using Godly wisdom and obedience to act, based upon what we feel Jesus is asking us to do. If it's to give a few dollars to a homeless person, as you pass, then do so! If it's to say a silent prayer as you pass a wreck on the highway, lift your hands and your heart to heaven! Do you need to call a sick loved one and encourage them? What about your neighbor, do they need assistance in some area?

However God lays it on your heart to respond, do it joyfully, without judgement or complaining! Do it as unto The Lord! Respond with grace and compassion! If you're not sure what you can do, don't worry, He will make it very clear to you. Your response is what will make the difference. One day, He might actually ask us, "what did you do for me in your lifetime?" I hope we can all say with a smile, "Lord, I loved your people". I think that is a response that will make our Savior smile!

Love God; Love People!

~Pearls

Share Your Bag of Gold!

This week in our Bible study, we ended our week 4 session in a riveting discussion about loving others like Jesus. In our study, Children of the Day, by Beth Moore, we found ourselves engulfed in the "madness and gladness" of human relationships. Beth clearly painted the picture of both sides of the love coin for us: on one side, we feel the glee, harmony and excitement of mutual feelings that exist between siblings, friends, lovers and other family members. When love is reciprocated and received in a balanced way, it is most fulfilling, confident and enjoyable. These are the relationships we live for. These are the relationships we pray for.
But what about the other side of the coin? What about those relationships where it seems as if we are pouring into to someone, but they don't seem to mind not pouring into us? What about the co-worker that takes the support, but never gives it? What about the cousin who always needs a favor, but is never available to help when you need it? What about the parent that demands the most of you, but always has excuses as to why they don't need to show up for themselves? These are the relationships that, naturally, we want to avoid. We want to "shake them off", as Taylor Swift would put it. We want to ignore, retreat and, at times, reject, such situations from our lives because, as we all know, love is suppose to be positive, happy and fun, right? Wrong!

"The world thinks that Christians are push overs sometimes because we keep giving and giving. It's not always easy and Christ never said that life was suppose to be easy. Love is hard. It's not about unicorns and rainbows. It's a daily fight against our flesh to love others like Jesus"- Jessica Gray, Pearls of Hope

This was the kickstart to our discussion! What do you think about Jessica's comment? In my heart, I felt so at peace to hear her words because it's comforting to know that I am not alone in the struggle to love difficult people- or to love easy people in difficult situations. It is a fight, as Jessica said. It is a daily decision that we must make, to pick up our cross and love like Jesus! As Beth Moore so eloquently put it, "there is madness and gladness when you invest yourself in other people". There are no guarantees that people will accept you, love you, respect you or value you. There are no promises given in scripture that if you treat people kindly and show them love that they will extend it back to you in return. Yet we are still called to love, regardless, just as Jesus has loved us.
In a way, it makes me so much more thankful to my Savior, because I realize that Christ put himself in this very position. He died for the sins of all human-kind, with no guarantee that he would be accepted, valued or loved in return. Yet, he was willing to take that risk for you and me. What love!!!

During our discussion, we were also reminded of the parable of the King and the Debtor (Matthew 18:21-35). Ariel Taylor, one of our newest Pearls, did such a great job retelling this story:

A man owed a king a great debt (like thousands). He was arrested and sentenced to prison because he could not pay. But the man pleaded for his life and the king had mercy on him and forgave his debt. The next day, debt free, the man ran into an associate who owed him a few hundred dollars. Enraged that the associate did not have the money, the man grabbed his comrade by the throat and demanded instant payment. When some of his other associates saw this, they went and told the King. When the King heard this, he was disgusted and sent the man to be tortured for his evil deeds and greed.

...So... What in the world does this have to do with loving others? What does this have to do with Jesus? WE  are all the debtors. Our sins, our selfishness, our ill motives and bad habits... they have put us in spiritual debt before God. We all owe a great price for our sins, as scripture says it- "the wages of sin is death"! (Romans 6:23). Yet, with no guarantee that we would receive his free payment, Jesus came and gave his life for ours instead. His love is like a bag of gold for our souls! Our sins/our debt have been forgiven! How much more should we show compassion and love for others? How much more should we share the gold, without hesitations or requirements attached. If we want to be effective Christians, we have to learn to share what we've been given. It's not ours to keep, we've been bought with a price! (1 Corinthians 6:20)

Love is a daily fight. It has it's highs and it's lows. It has its rainbows and its storms. It can come in the form of romance or it can come in the form of friendship or family relations. Love is multifaceted, yet the commandment is not: "Love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12).

Let's be like Jesus and love hard, as he does! Let's show the world our bravery to love without limits, give freely and share openly the same as our Savior does for us! Let's give what we've been given!
There is gladness in the madness and the results, even if never experienced here on earth, will be worth the sacrifice in Heaven! Let's share our bag of gold with the world and love on purpose!

Live lovingly!
~Pearls

We are BACK in session!!!

Last night was an amazing beginning to our first new Bible Study of 2015: Children of the Day, by Beth Moore. I cannot begin to tell you all how excited I was to reconnect with my old Pearls and welcome in new visitors and guests! For the past 2 months, we took a break from our weekly meetings to enjoy the holidays with our families and to just rest in knowing that God's grace is sufficient. During our time away, we did not eliminate meeting all together, as you well know! We enjoyed Birthday parties, movies, carnivals, random nights of nothing at each other's homes, snow tubbing and church serving. It was a much needed break, but I'm so glad to say that we are back in session!

As the days continued to roll over and as we drew nearer to the night of this new study, many of our girls expressed the interest of other girls who had visited our blog, our Facebook page and our instagram page. They felt as if they wanted to be a part of what we are striving to do- which is to simply create a community of women who have the desire to grow in Christ, provide encouragement and accountability through Christian friendships and to be used by God to serve others around us. It was my most greatest joy to not welcome one new guest...not two new guests... but 7 new guests, with 2 more who are planning to attend next week!!!! Let me tell you, a living room full of 15 girls is a very exciting sight to see!!!! We had to move tables and pull in chairs, with no room to spare! It was incredible and wonderful and every other good word that you could ever think of!

The house was full of joy! There was so much laughter and jokes, flashes from camera's and plates full of food! We talked, we read scripture, we prayed and we hugged. Last night couldn't have gone any better and I am so thankful to the Lord, because our growth is the evidence of His Spirit at work through us.
As I looked around at all the old and new faces, I realized that being a Christian is truly a state of living and experiencing. We are called to reach out, connect, encourage and to love; not just quote scripture or maintain traditions. The life of a Believer is the most beautiful existence, because we are moving and thriving and producing that which is eternal.

Last night, we learned from the first session that God wants to do a "Remix" in our lives and in our hearts. He isn't interested in us just re-doing and re-playing the same conversations and the same events over and over again. He wants to be alive in us! He wants to use us to reach others and to love without limits, share His truth with confidence and engage others in the knowledge and hope of Jesus Christ! God wants to bring in new people, new events, new challenges and new victories, but we must have a willingness to follow Him where ever He may lead us. I pray that we all are willing to arise to that calling:

"Lord, have your way in me"!

I'm so honored and so thankful to be a part of such a loving and dynamic group of women! We are all different- coming from different backgrounds, different careers, different forms of education and different places in our walk with Jesus. But one thing we have in common- the only thing that truly matters- is that our hearts are joined together in anticipation for God's promises and with an expectation to receive more of Him in our lives! I am amazed at my God and I look forward to the weeks ahead, learning, serving and loving with these beautiful sisters in Christ!

Let's get started on the next path of our journey!

~Pearls

Argue in the name of Love

Last week, my husband and I were headed down the road towards a pretty unfriendly disagreement. I must admit that it was completely my fault. I over reacted (like usual). I spoke too soon (like usual). I failed to consider all of the facts (like usual).

In my close circle of friends, which pretty much consists of all of the members of Pearls of Hope, we have developed, for the most part, a pretty telepathic form of communication. We can read each other's emotions and do a pretty good job of interpreting the body language of another woman. We understand the meaning of a sigh, or the teary eyed look from a friend. But I have to admit, it never dawned on me that this form of communication was/is foreign to my husband, and many men for that matter.

During our argument, I was waiting for him to interpret my body language, perceive my unspoken thoughts through my tears and gestures. I was hoping for his "AHA" moment to happen, without my use of words or verbal expressions of my feelings; yet when I did not receive an indication that he understood me, I began to become frustrated and, let's just say that the scripture "slow to speak" was no longer resonating in my thoughts. Thankfully, the Lord, in His tender kindness, has a way of stepping in and calming the storms of our hearts. Because Jesus is our center, we were able to lovingly resolve the tensions and misunderstandings, before any ship wrecks occurred!

Ladies, although I am only still a newly wed, I want to empress upon you the importance of being vulnerable within your relationships. Our husbands, boyfriends, friends, families- they are not mind readers. Jesus is the only one who can peer into the crevices of our hearts; it's foolish to expect another person to preform a task that we ourselves are not capable of doing. There is nothing wrong with arguments; in fact, conflict is needed to allow a relationship to grow. Healthy conflict will result in you learning more about yourself and your loved one. It brings out our true nature, flaws, weaknesses and strengths- all of which is necessary to be exposed, if we are desiring to build an honest and open relationship with someone. But we have to be willing to expose ourselves if we expect to gain the trust and confidence of the other person, in order for them to do the same with us.

Below is an article from Relevant Magazine. I thought it might be helpful for those of you who need a little lesson on arguing in a healthy and loving manner. It's focus in on marriage, but really, the information can be applied to any relationship. I hope this will help you and encourage you in your journey with Jesus.

Remember, our Lord is a relational God. He wants us to build and grow in His grace and share His love with others.

Be honest, be kind and be blessed!

~Pearls
RELEVANT MAGAZINE: 8-things-every-healthy-marriage-has

Practicing Prayer

For the next 2 months, Pearls of Hope will be learning and practicing the gift and privilege of prayer! Last Tuesday, we entered into this very important topic with hearts wide open and optimistic spirits. It's amazing how many Jesus-believing people are either too afraid or too self conscious to practice consistent prayer, yet this is what scripture teaches us to do.

"Pray without ceasing"

-1 Thessalonians 5:17

"Ask and it will be given"

Matthew 7:7

"Pray for others"

-Hebrews 13:18

Pages and pages throughout the Bible encourage us to ask the Father, to cry out to God, to intercede for others and to approach the throne of grace with confidence. What love the Father has for us, that He allows an open door of communication to be set between Himself and His children. Yet, so many find fear, hesitation or uncomfort when put in the position to pray, especially in public. For this study, it is my hope and prayer that many of the girls find joy in praying out loud and for each other. My prayer is that we all experience a sweet presence of the Holy Spirit throughout this study, as we come together in sincere and open hearted prayer, for the next 6 weeks.

If you find fear or hesitation in your prayer life, please search the scriptures, and ask the Lord to replace your timidity with courage and boldness! Our Father loves to hear our hearts! Our brothers and sisters in Christ need to know that we are lifting them up in prayer! We have not, because we ask not. Let's all join together in asking and seeking a spirit that delights in prayer to our Loving and Gracious King!

Stay encouraged!

~Pearls

Join the Movement!

We are currently in the process of creating our YouTube page! (Stay Tuned for that!!!) This morning, I was looking/surfing around for similar organizations such as ours (Pearls of Hope) and I came across this video that was just amazing! It really touched my heart and it confirmed a lot of love lessons that we've been learning throughout our study of Crazy Love! Maybe you've seen this video, maybe you haven't. But as you watch it, consider your own heart and any way that you can focus more on loving others- not based on their behavior, their differences or their beliefs- just simply and purely loving others, like Jesus!

WELCOME!!!

At the moment it is very still. All the girls have left from our Tuesday night Bible Study. The laughter and conversation no longer linger in the air, and I am reminded of how sweet the silence can be. My beautiful husband lies asleep in the other room; tired and drained from his long day. My books are in the corner, waiting to be read, but instead I've decided to sit awhile and enjoy the sweet silence that comes from knowing that God's word has satisfied, once again.

Currently, we have just completed week 11 in our Daniel study, by Beth Moore. This study will mark #2 that we have completed in the past year. Now, with only one week left to go in Daniel, I find myself reflecting over the past year's journey and at God's marvelous plans and his beautiful word. I think about how far we have all come, over the past 10 months and I am thankful that we did not give up, even when odds and opinions were against us. I am so proud of my girls... my friends... my sisters in Christ!

There was a sad time in our short history as a group where we were discouraged from joining together in Bible study and prayer. We were told that we were not mature enough, that we needed training, that we were out of line. We were told that we didn't know what we were doing... and maybe we didn't. But God saw our burning hearts for more of His word. He graciously took notice, as we prayed for each other, studied His truths and shared His love with one another. He has led us a mighty long way, with still much terrain to travel! I am honored to walk alongside women such as these; women who are not afraid to ask questions and seek truths beyond "Church Lingo"... women who aren't afraid or ashamed to say, "I am hungry for more of God!" These women are amazing and I am so proud to share this journey with them.

In our current study of Daniel, we are learning that in order to live effective lives for the cause of Christ, we must live our lives out on purpose, as living sacrifices that have resolved to renounce anything that will keep us from growing a deeper relationship with Christ and from our Godly calling.

Beth Moore says, "We...can live out our lives with integrity, but we will never do it by accident". How profound is that? Everyday, we must choose to pattern our hearts and our minds after the Truth that is found only in Christ, through the Word of God! And as we grow and mature, in His love, He begins to shape us and polish us into the Pearls and into the young women He has created us to be, for His kingdom and glory's sake! (Amen)

Sitting here, in the silence, my heart is so full and thankful for what God is preparing to do, in our lives, and in yours! Allow the Lord to lead you, in whatever direction you feel He is calling you. Don't worry if you're not good enough, mature enough or properly trained. If you have a heart to know, love and serve the Lord, then you are equipped enough! Christ will do the rest, and put you on a royal display, with all the other Jewels in His Crown!

Be encouraged, my friend!

Faith, Hope and Love, 

~Pearls of Hope