#betheshe

One of the most common conversations we find ourselves having with our families and friends is how can someone become who God wants them to become?

I think, at some point or another, we all find ourselves searching for the answer to that question. We all want to become who we were meant to be. We don't want our lives to be waisted or our dreams to go unrealized, but in Christ, we needn't have that fear.

Scripture promises us that we don't have to worry about our futures, our destinies or accomplishing our purpose, because God already has this under control and His will is that we be successful in this life when we trust Him with our lives.

"The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting." -Psalm 138:8

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them"- Ephesians 2:10

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose"-Romans 8:28

We can each be the "She" who can accomplish all that God has for us. We can be the "She" who is brave to believe, who loves without limits and who grinds to accomplish the dreams that God has placed within her heart!

We are so proud to announce that we are selling our hand made necklace jewelry called, #BeTheShe, as a daily reminder of the "She" that we all want to be. With God, nothing is impossible! Please visit our shop and support us by purchasing your necklace today for yourself, your family and your friends!


Love,

Katrina McCain + Pearls of Hope

Flawed to Perfection

I look around me and I see beauty in everyone. I consider my family and friends- their positive characteristics as well as their less than lovely issues, and I am convinced that, deep down, everyone is loving and kind, in spite of less than admirable choices, mistakes or environments. And I'm sure I am not alone.
It's human nature to argue that our good outweighs our bad, yet even at our personal best, we are at our worst because our "goodness" and our "beauty" is only circumstantial. The sin that so easily ensures us makes it impossible for us to be completely whole, completely perfect or completely guilt free 24/7. We can do good things, say good things, act in a good way and encourage others to do the same, but without Christ, our best has holes in it and leaks out any effort we make to combat our imperfections.
Human nature tells us to excuse our flaws away; make light of wrong doings, compare ourselves to others, explain why our issues are personal and no one else's business... we've all been guilty of the "cover up". In Genesis chapter 3, we see that Adam and Eve produced the first attempt to cover and explain away their sin and man has been doing that ever since. Why? It's because the "cover up" is easier than the confession. It's easy to pretend nothing is wrong or that we have it all figured out. It's easy to excuse our messes or to avoid people who we know have higher standards for us than we do for ourselves. But there is no freedom in the "cover up". Christ has come to take away our shame and trade it for His freedom!

"But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin,

so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ."~Galatians 3:22

Sin is a prison and it confines us when we don't confess. Like weeds, it creeps in and restricts the opportunity for complete beauty to shine through. Confession is the pruning of the weeds which goals are only to hold us back and strangle God's Spirit within us, which is ours through Jesus. But let's be real. None of us go around exposing every internal conflict, mistake or issue. And as Christian women, we often get slapped with the hypocrisy syndrome- we are afraid to expose our problems in fear that others will judge or reject us. But I think it is important for us all to understand that hiding our issues is not strength, it is the lack of it. Maturity is the ability to live humbly before God and before man. Instead of hiding, its more liberating to recognize this is the number one struggle that the majority of us deal with in our lives: how to live a Christ-centered life, despite our spiritual struggles. I know I am not alone in this.


Last quarter, the Pearls completed a study on the book of Esther, and I'd like to share a quote which got my brain rolling on this subject.  "Even those most serious about their pursuit of God and godliness fail to be perfect examples all the time. That's why God is busy conforming us into the likeness of Christ."

To me, this is a sigh of relief and a breath of fresh air! In my weakness and in my struggles to avoid temptation, God has made Christ strong in me! Not so that I can continue to practice things which His word instructs me not to do, but so that I can have the resilience and the desire to say no when such things begin to slither my way.

To be human is not synonymous with hypocrisy. This was a fear that I spent the first years of my salvation trying to avoid and prove; to no avail. It's debilitating for us to deny the reality of our humanity. Christ calls us not to ignore it, but to expose it and to receive forgiveness and grace that only He can give! 1 John 1:9 is a scripture that we have committed ourselves to learn in our Bible Study:
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us of all wrong".

Perfection is not proof of salvation! We each WILL FALL. Let's go ahead and accept that reality now and save ourselves so much stress and worry. Our beauty isn't based on our efforts, its a result of God's goodness. When we live for Him, our lives are immaculate. But when we fall, know that we fall in God's grace! Our flaws are made perfect when we trust Him with all our hearts- The great and the misguided; the struggles and the victories. His loving kindness will catch us each and every time- when we are truthful with Him, with ourselves and with others. He is more than enough for all that we endure and he equips us with what we need, as we need it. We can find trusted mentors, family members or friends to pray with us and encourage us, because this Journey with Jesus is dynamic when we are connected with others. And as we travel and grow, confess and progress, we begin to shine like Christ, in spite of our situation, and that is true Strength!

As we live this life of faith and over come our instincts to cover up, then the beauty that is ours in Christ becomes more visible and exposed. This is the true testimony: not that we are good, but that God is great! We each have our ashes, but God wants to trade them for His beauty (Isaiah 61:3). That is what makes others feel encouraged and motivated to take part in this life of Grace!

One day, we will shine like our savior and we will be free from all of our flaws, but until then...Be bold in your living! Grace is not meant to be covered up, but shared and displayed! His love is continuously perfecting us and that is worth smiling about!
~Pearls

Be Thankful in Prayer

As many of you know, my friends and I are getting ready to endeavor upon an out of the country missions trip to Roatan, Honduras. We will be ministering to young women, ages 12-25 (approximately). In our training, we are learning scripture, how to share our testimony and how to leave our comfort zones. At yesterday's training, I grew in my faith from all the sharing and exchanging that went on between my friends and I. It was so powerful to green from everyone's confidence and interpretation of what God is doing in their lives and how they want so much more of Him. It's a powerful thing when you see others seeking the Lord, because, in the best case scenario, it usually causes you to operate in a deeper desire for Him, as well.

In light of the tragedy that is swooping over the whole world, we as Christians have a very unique opportunity to not only pray for those who are hurting and less fortunate than ourselves, but to also lift up our hearts in thankfulness for all God has done, is doing and will continue to do in our lives. There is no telling what my friends and I will encounter in Honduras. There is no telling how truly horrific the lasting affects of the attacks in France have left it's citizens. There is no telling how every day people are suffering in their circumstances, confused in their purposes or weary in their well doing. There is no telling because, in reality, we are truly only ever capable of completely understanding our own situations. We can empathize with people, but we are not mind readers. We cannot assume the issues of others and interpret everything the way that particular individual is interpreting their own situation. We can really only handle our own hurt, confusion, frustration or disappointment. Yet, in spite of where we are or where we may recognize others to be, we have so much to be thankful for.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Sometimes, even though we know in our heads to be thankful, it takes some effort to practice thankfulness from our hearts. So how can we push through the need to complain or fight our feelings of being unsatisfied? How can we ignore our pain that can seem to overwhelm us at times, or how do we overcome our own frustrations and disappointments? How do we forgive world tragedies, like

what's happening in Paris, and really trust that God has it all in control? Well, first, we must recognize that it's normal to have these moments and feelings; it's normal to forget to be thankful. This is why the Bible reminds us, in Colossians, to be thankful in prayer (Colossians 4:2). There are times where we must pray! There are times when all hope seems to be lost, when we cannot stand any longer, when anger wants to swell up within us and when life just seems to be unjust. So, we must pray! For us, for others and for the world! But in our prayers, we must be thankful.

Scripture says that "this world is not my home", (Hebrews 13:14). It's easy to get uneasy and fidgety when you are homesick. Our hearts cry out for more than this world can offer, but while we are in this world, we must realize that God has and will continue to provide for all that we need, in every area of our lives- physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually, and so on and so forth. He does not have a blind eye to our existence. He sees it all and He cares so greatly. His desire is to give all of His children good things (Matthew 7:11).
No, this does not mean that God will remove all our hard times. More than likely, He will not drop a million dollars in your pocket, or propel you to the top of your career instantly; neither does this mean that the man of your dreams will magically appear and fulfill your every dream and wish. In the experience of life, there will be tears and doubt, but God is love! His provision for our lives consists beyond the material. He wants to provide us with more of Him- more love, peace, patience, grace, mercy, wisdom, worship, truth, joy, light...ect. All these things are summed up in our relationship with Jesus and He longs to give us so much more, if we but only ask! We are not eradicated from the troubles of this life, but through the troubles, God is there and provides what we need in the midst of every storm and season. These provisions allow us to persevere through this life and in this world, that is not our true home. As we continue to grow and pursue Christ, we will live a more thankful life, produced in our hearts out of Love for our AMAZING God and result in prayers that will change what we ourselves cannot! So be thankful, in good times and in trying times, because God is mighty and a constant friend. He will not abandon us in our hour of need.

Yes, the whole entire world seems to keep flipping itself upside down and in spite of our humanitarian efforts, our global donations, our walks for this cause or that cause, even our well intended hugs with friends who need us most, we are of no excuse to loose hope. Life my be chaotic, and things may not always go our way, but we have everything we need in Christ, and therefore, we must choose to be thankful in all things; remembering those who are hurting, of course, and lift them up in prayer.
As we continue living in thankfulness that our God is always there, we are better able to serve and aid those around us who need to know His love! After all, that truly is our purpose: to love people and point them to the God who loves them more. We have a unique opportunity to not only help the physical situations, but to help in the spiritual as well. The truth of the matter is that there is evil in this world, and it's obvious. Its not a person or a particular group of people, it is just the enemy of sin and it  wants to defy God and take away our hope, our love and our attitude of gratitude. But we must be strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10)! We must remain in faith and in His love, because there are people who are counting on our prayers. We must remind ourselves, even in the trials, that God is faithful and will never break His promises. We have so much to be thankful for, because we have a God who loves us!

Here are some scriptures to remind and encourage us all to give thanks, often and sincerely, for all the Lord has done... and really, just because He is! As these scriptures encourage you, let's all continue to pray for the hearts that are hurting in Paris, and all over the world for that matter. In spite of such tragedy, God is still near. He is not ignorant to what is going on. He is not busy doing other things. He sees the pain and He hears the cries. He loves us through our darkest moments and His light will shine when all else fades. I am so thankful to know a God who will one day right all wrongs. If for nothing else, I am thankful for His love, not just for me, but for the entire world.

Ten Reasons Why Christians Should be the Most Thankful:

1. We have been adopted as sons and daughters by the King of the universe (Galatians 4:4-6.)
2. We have been saved from the penalty of sin (Colossians 1:13,14.)
3. We have true security and significance in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10.)
4. We are part of a global fellowship of spiritual brothers and sisters (1 Peter 5:9.)
5. We are being saved from the power of sin (1 Corinthians 1:18.)
6. We have a cause, THE CAUSE, to live for here on earth (Matthew 28:19.)
7. We are engaged in an epic struggle against a dangerous arch enemy…so life’s never
    boring (Ephesians 6:10-12.)
8. We will be saved from the presence of sin someday soon (Philippians 1:5,6.)
9. Our movies are getting better (they had nowhere to go but up…I wish I had Scriptural
     support for this point.)
10. Because Jesus has conquered death we will too! (1 Corinthians 15…the whole
      awesome chapter!)
List provided by Greg Stier, from his website, Gregstier.org.

Running Your Race

Do you know what I love to do when I'm tired... I mean, really, REALLY tired? I like to sleep. I like to put on my fav Victoria Secret sweat pants, with the green stain on the left hip, throw on my worn out UNC-Charlotte T-shirt, put my hair in a bun, turn my phone off and all the lights, creep into my comfy Queen-sized bed, throw the covers over my head, say a quick, "Thank you Jesus for this day. I love you, Lord. Amen", and just be knocked all the way out! (Excuse my ebonics!) I love to sleep. Especially when I'm tired.

My friends and I kid about this all the time. Monday mornings seem to be the worst and our group chats are filled with funny memes that exaggerate our exhaustion. I get tickled by the silly cartoons, the faces that fall in the coffee cups, the pillows being placed over heads and the comedians who crack jokes about the upcoming doom of the inevitable work day. In all honesty, if we all had the choice, work would never be done. We'd all spend our days with our heads laid on our down pillows. Work is tiring. Sleep is comforting.
My point? Well, sometimes, in the tiredness, we don't truly appreciate the work. We don't see the effects, the positives, the advantages or the blessings. How can we? We're tired!!! But in our fatigue, I wonder, how many of us, like myself, only anticipate the rest and not the results?
What about in our Spiritual lives? How many of us ever grow tired of well doing? How many of us long for our heavenly rest from the work and fatigue of living our lives as selfless ambassadors for Christ? How many of us, I wonder, only get through our opportunities to witness, give back, share love or extend forgiveness, only in anticipation for the time where we don't have to do it anymore?

Scripture tells us, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up"- Galatians 6:9

Sometimes, we get tired of work; even if the work is good and fulfilling. We're human and our minds grow weak with repetition. It's the same with our spiritual lives. The spirit may be willing, but our flesh gets so weak sometimes (Matthew 6:24). We don't always want to turn the other check all the time, it gets tiring. Some days, we don't want to encourage others, because that can get exhausting. Loving those who are rude and ungrateful gets frustrating and we want to throw in the towel. Even reading and praying... it can seem redundant and unsuccessful, and our natural response is not to even bother with it for one reason or another.
We can get so down on ourselves and so focused on the relief and the not results, but scripture urges us not to give up! Just this past Friday, I was reminded of how persistence can change patterns. If we want to be effective and live lives that count, we have to be willing to be persistent in our living. Even when it's hard, even when we are tired, we cannot give up on doing what it right. We cannot give up on showing love when others hurt us, or telling our loved ones the truth, even if they do not receive it with joy. In the long run, we do others and ourselves a disservice when we refuse to get up and press on.

"Therefore, since through God's mercy 

we have this ministry, we do not lose heart"- 2 Corinthians 4:1

"And as for you, brothers and sisters, 

never tire of doing what is good"-2 Thessalonians 3:13

Pressing on takes courage and determination. Persistence requires resolve and commitment. It's frustrating when we don't see results right away, but I am reminded of the Bible's call towards us as athletes- particularly runners (I Corinthians 9:24). In this scripture, it is brought to our attention that in a race, there can only be one winner. Yet at one point or another, I know that runners get tired, especially long distance runners. Think about Allyson Felix, who won the Olympics for the women's 200 meter in 2012. Or Thomas Longboat who broke the Boston Marathon time in 1908. What about Forest Gump who ran cross-country? Ok, maybe not Forest Gump; but the point is, running a race, doing good deeds, working for the Kingdom of God... it can all be hard work. But if we get tired, if we let the fatigue get the best of us, we will never win the prize; we will never earn the reward.

There are indeed times for rest. But when the rest is over, are we willing to get back to work? It's not always easy. The sun won't always shine and the birds won't always sing, but when I dig deep in my heart, I realize that I'd rather be in the race than in the bed. I'd rather be doing and becoming and achieving all that God has for me, rather than dreaming about what could be.

If your Spiritual nap has taken up more time than you originally intended, it's time to wake up! If you are on what seems like your last leg and find yourself entertaining fantasies of your warm cozy bed, let me give you a fresh push of encouragement: Don't give up on doing what is good! Don't allow yourself to tire from being used of God. He has a plan for you and a prize at the end of your journey, if you don't give up. Rest in Jesus and he will carry you! There will be hills to climb, bruises to mend, bushes to jump over and rivers to cross. It will get difficult at times, but beautiful at others. There will be days when you just want to stop and take in the scenery, and that's ok. At least you'll still be in the race. The important thing is to not give up. Sure, you might yawn at times or need some energy to make it, as all athletes do who are actively pursuing the gold. But nothing gets accomplished if you dream your day way.

Don't give up. The BEST is yet to come!

~Pearls

Our OFFICIAL VIDEO, Summer 2015

Good Morning Loves!

Can you believe it's August, already??? With this being the last full month of summer, I was compelled to look over and be thankful for all the wonderful things God has done for us this season! We've welcomed 2 new Pearls, served others with grateful hearts, memorized five amazing scriptures, accomplished some pretty unbelievable goals and had an amazing time doing it!

God is good! Let me say it again... GOD IS GOOD!!! His love for us continues to overflow in each of our hearts, and our pray is that you are experiencing the same growth in your own life. Whether you are a new sister in Christ or you have an established relationship in the Lord, remember that you are not alone! There are so many people in the body of Christ who are routing for you. They want the absolute best for you and have been placed in your life to encourage you, love you and celebrate with you! If you feel as if  you don't have a place, ask God to bring people into your life. He will not hesitate to do so, I promise.

There was a time when I felt as if I was all alone in my Journey with Jesus. But as I look back over these last 2 and a half years, I see that God was leading my steps towards this moment, all along. I am so thankful for my Pearls! They my Sisters, my friends and my heart! They have become so much more than just a group to spend my free time with. They are central to my life, my everyday and my success in the Lord! I can't wait for them to see this video! I can't wait to be with them again! But mostly, I can't wait to see what more God is going to do in them, through them and for them! They are women of faith and women of perseverance and encouragement. I pray that everything we do and everything we attempt and portray will be a shining encouragement for you, as well! 

Shine bright, my loves!

~Pearls

Pearls of Hope would like to thank iGRAPHICS for their assistance in this project! (www.iGraphics.com)

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

2 Years Behind Us... An Even Brighter Future Ahead of Us!

At the brink of Summer, 2013, we began a little Bible Study at my kitchen table. There were only two girls, Ashley and I, and we met over breakfast to discuss our need for more of God. We read a few scriptures, had a lot of discussion, ate cinnamon rolls with coffee and smiled at the thought of having personal devotion together during that summer. It was a sweet time for us and for our friendship. Two weeks later, Jessica joined us, followed by Kourtney, and by the end of the month, we had begun our first book with our faithful four!

Fast forward two years later, we are 13 girls strong, with weekly meetings, weekend trips, community outreach, social media interactions and, to celebrate our growth in the Lord, our much anticipated 2nd Annual Ladies Luncheon!!! This year, our Luncheon was held under a beautiful blue sky, in Lindley Park, with the company of God's gorgeous creation! Our mentors/guest speakers traveled all the way from Charlotte to share their love and encouragement with us. It was a lovely success and, I believe, just a sneak peak of what more God has in store for us all!
Pearls of Hope serves as an undeniable blessing in my life. It's a joy for me to witness all that God has done for us and doing within us in only a short amount of time. We are more than just a Bible Study, we are an accountability group, filled with love and commitment toward one another, all for the sake of Christ! There were times when people close to us discouraged us from meeting. They didn't understand the vision God had placed within us. But our faith in the Lord and in each other is the only source from which our success grows! Our friendships are blooming, our confidence is growing, our relationships with Christ, although very individual and specific to each one of us, deepens with each study we complete, each prayer that we pray and each hug and encouragement that we share!

Hebrews 10: 23-25 is the scripture we have dedicated to represent our organization, as well as define our purpose and our friendships with one another:
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day [of Christ's return] approaching".

At our 2nd Annual Luncheon, we were able to celebrate the growth and accountability that we share

together in Christ! We are so thankful for His blessings and look forward to ALL that  God has in store for us as we progress in Him! 2015 is filled with such promise as we endeavor upon our 6th study and plan for ideas that Christ has already begun to lay on our hearts for 2016!

"[Our] 2nd annual luncheon was nothing short of amazinggg!! This Bible study has been such a blessing to me and I can confidently say, all of the other pearls as well! My relationship with Christ grows stronger with each study and I'm so very thankful and grateful for each one of you. It is no coincidence that the things I was missing, the Lord saw fit to provide in and through this group. I love you all and I admire your pursuit of Christ, I pray God continues to grow our love and fellowship with each other and his people. Great things with be birthed from this group, the best is yet to come but God's NOW is pretty amazing"
~Jessica G., Pearls of Hope Member (Facebook Quote)

Pearls of Hope has become, not only a priority in our lives, but a necessity, because within this group, we can be transparent and vulnerable with each other, without fear. We can confess our struggles and short comings, lean on each other for encouragement, strength and forgiveness and hold each other accountable through the Word of God and in prayer. We are not just a club or a "girl's group", we are dynamic, fearless, passionate and unstoppable because we belong to the Lord!

What sets us apart? It's not our looks, or our talents. It's not the measure of our success or our intellect. What makes us phenomenal is our heart's pursuit of Christ! He has taken a group of broken, lost, mistreated and abandoned women and has exchanged our earthly treasures, existence and false senses of security for his eternal love, value, forgiveness and acceptance. We are daughters of the Most High King and it is His LIFE that makes ours BEAUTIFUL!!! 

Thank you Lord for your blessings and our friendships! We celebrate them and we cherish you!

~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

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

Giving Praise

"Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart"- Psalm 111:1

Good morning, everyone!
We wanted to just encourage you all in the Lord, today! Our God is so majestic and wonderful and His love is never ending!

Last night, our friend Anthony Foster, from CTS, was so kind in featuring us in his Open Mic Showcasing! We were able to minister and be ministered to! We sold some sweet snacks and were able to raise a few extra dollars for our Passion Conference trip and we met a lot of wonderful people, who encouraged us and prayed with us. It was so refreshing to be amongst other people and other hearts who are crying out to praise and please the Lord. It was a true blessing and testimony of how great our God is!

As you go on throughout your days and week, we pray that you all will find moments to praise the Lord for all the good things he has done!

Happy Sunday, everyone!

~Pearls

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever."

            -Psalm 136:1-26 

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

We pray that all of you will enjoy the beauty of this day and find a quiet moment to lift a thankful prayer up in your hearts for all of God's goodness! I thank God for my family, precious mercies, the love of my friends and the joy that comes from knowing Jesus. I thank God for a promising future and for a past that won't be held against me. I thank God for an opportunity to stand up for what is right and to speak out in encouragement for others. I thank God that He is God and that His love is marvelous and free!!!

Be Thankful in all things!

~Pearls