A Wardrobe to Live By!

It's a Saturday morning and you are off to meet some friends for lunch! You complete your morning routine, as usual, bun your hair up and head for the closet. As you peel back the rows of clothes that hang in your wardrobe, you instinctively reach for a cute, selfie-appropriate dress! Even though you purchased it a year ago, the tags are still hanging from the collar. You tried it on several times in the store before you bought it and have been keeping it for just the right moment. You begin the process of putting it on, which becomes less than effortless. The bust area is too tight, the zipper won't budge and the waist line seems to squeeze the life out of you! As you stare at your reflection in the mirror, you realize that, despite it's beauty, it just doesn't fit quite right.   "No matter", you think, "It used to fit. Maybe no one will notice" and you walk out the door, in less than perfect style.

Its funny to think about purposefully leaving the house with zippers unzipped or hemlines that are
crooked. I  hope that, in real life, we would never EVER do this to ourselves. Hopefully, we would never purposefully wear clothes that we could not walk, non the less, breathe in. But the truth is, whether we are aware of it or not, spiritually, we are all guilty of wearing things we have out grown, heedless that they are no longer attractive. In our daily living we can put on things that hide the beauty that is ours in Christ. Sure, we might notice a little problem in our attitude here and there or we may recognize that a couple of motives should be checked, but instead of dealing with those concerns, we drape a necklace over it and walk out the door. We can wear attitudes, mindsets and ill gotten intensions, oblivious of how they make us look to those who are watching.

We can mistake unforgiveness as strength, not realizing that the anger we are wearing no longer fits in our life. The person you hope to scold has actually moved on, while you are still in the moment, reliving it every time they come to mind. It's time to fold those feelings away. Human anger cannot produce the goodness of God in your life or in any other situation (James 1:20). Society loves a good feud and, if we listen to what is popular in our world, we might just find ourselves wearing the wrong types of emotions. Instead, God wants us to trade in our anger by putting on kindness and forgiveness. They may not be trendy, but I promise you they will feel good and look great!

Maybe there is a relationship that you are trying to hold onto that just isn't fitting anymore. Every time you try to secure a button, another one just pops off. You give your best efforts, but the stitches continue to unravel. It might be time to place it in the "Goodwill" pile! What won't fit in your life, might be perfect for someone else! As women, I think our eternal flaw is believing that we can hold onto relationships forever, but like a summer dress, relationships are sometimes seasonal- not meant to weather every storm. Sometimes, it's more loving to part as friends, than to split as enemies. Knowing when to let go is a grace in and of itself! You don't want to be caught off guard wearing gloves in the spring or sandals in the snow! Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time for everything and that everything is beautiful in its time! But forcing to keep what God is asking you to let go of will result in catastrophe! The best thing to do, in this case, is to lay those garment...err, relationships, down and ask the Lord for His guidance. He will show you what  you need to do (John 14:26), in a mature and loving manner, as to not rip apart and tear hearts.

Another area we may be outgrowing is in the area of our personal devotion time with God. This is hard to believe, but as we follow Christ, it should result in growth and change, not perpetual behavior. Yes, we have our "go-to" books and our "go-to" sermons; we have our trusty quotes and our comfortable prayers, but what if, as we progress through life, God is asking us to try on bigger shoes or longer britches? We can become complacent in even our worship if we refuse to allow the Holy Spirit to challenge us. It might be time for a wardrobe change: exchanging our sweat shirt and jeans for something more proper. This may be uncomfortable at first, but building our faith by challenging our comfort zones will bring on maturity in our lives so that we can be better positioned to complete the good work that God has purposed for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). Sometimes, our usual methods won't produce the spiritual figures that is required for us in the long run. Maybe it's time to box away our conventional attempts of praise and allow our hearts to be lead down untrodden paths that the Lord may be trying to guide us on. High Heels are cute and flats are comfy, but maybe this time, we need to put them away in their boxes and trade them in for some hiking shoes!

As I write to each of you, I am in self reflection. I am looking at my present state in life and I definitely see somethings that I cannot allow myself to wear any more, no matter how much I still enjoy them. It doesn't have to be too small or too big in order for it not to be the best fit. Maybe something fits perfectly, but it's out of season.
I remember, just recently, I walked out the house with sandals and a crop top, unaware that the weather called for a 60% chance of rain. I was bummed and embarrassed. I should have considered the environment before I selected my attire. We can all admit to making a wardrobe flop once in a while. So, what then can we do to be sure that our spiritual clothes are not the wrong size for us or that we are appropriately dressed for the right environment?
In the natural world, a mirror is the best way to check out your reflection, and, to be honest, a mirror is one of my favorite tools to use! I love mine! I have about 4! You can check your face, your hair, your body and your outfits. You can use a mirror to take cute selfies or to fix any problems that you might discover about your reflection. Many of us (and tell the truth) even carry mirrors in our bags! They are a staple in our daily routine. God has also provided  us with His own type of mirror, through His word, so that we can check ourselves before we venture out into the world and  before we engage with other people, so that we can reflect on who we are and who we are called to be and look like. We can use scripture to determine if what we are wearing is inappropriate for us or if it no longer fits. We can use scripture as our mirror to determine if we are looking like Jesus!
According to James, "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do" (James 1:23-25).

That is truly the most embarrassing wardrobe mistake of all... not knowing what you look like! I cringe at the thought of even the smallest bit of lipstick on my teeth or a shirt that has been worn backwards! Ladies, we are GORGEOUS, but if we are not living according to the scriptures, even the most prettiest of us will look foolish. So, my challenge to us all is to use God's words to self reflect this week and every day for that matter! Is this attitude out of date for me? Are these goals I have my heart set on expired and too small for me? What about my prayer life- Does it fit? Is this relationship in or out of season? Let's be sure to pattern our lives, not just our words, according to scripture so that we can reflect God's love in our hearts for others to see! His Love is always trending and it never goes out of style! 

Dress carefully, intentionally and lovingly!

~Pear

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

As White as Snow

There is a precisely calming awe connected to snow. What is it about the frigid white blanket of solid precipitation that always seems to melt away the impatience, the moodiness and the restlessness of the world, if even for just a moment?

On Facebook, a friend posted, "Was I the only one who looked out of my window to check and see if it snowed this morning?". The response resulted in 244 likes and 52 comments. So, clearly, others around the country reacted in the same way. I know I did. To peel back even one blind and glance at a white covered world brings such amazement and serenity within that very moment. It makes me wonder: If natural snow, that will melt away, can give such affirmative peace, how much more than should I allow my life to rest in the eternal peace of my Salvation, which scripture tells us will make our hearts as white as snow?

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow..." ~Isaiah 1:18

God desires to give us peace, not just for the moment, but for eternity. His peace is what guards our life from the troubles that come with this world and sustains us through the uncharted waters and the ups and the downs of life. Sin, that which separates us from God, no longer has to be a fear in our hearts. When we align ourselves with God and His word and when we agree to allow Jesus to be Lord over us, then our sins are washed away and our Salvation brings about a clean heart before a Holy God. No need to fear His holiness, if we are partakers in it! It is a free gift with an everlasting promise: If we turn from our own ways and accept Jesus as our Savior, there is freedom from fear, peace for the unknown and a heart made clean like snow.

As we continue to experience the winter weather of the days to come, remember that all the beauty we see out of our windows will soon melt away. The white ice will turn black from the dust and the mud. Children will ruin the crystal landscapes with their sleds and snowball fights. The city will begin to shovel and salt the mystery away, but for those of us who are rooted in Jesus, His purity, which makes our hearts snow white, will never fade. It is eternally beautiful. Our peace and security in Him and in His love will outlast any season we may experience in this life. Through Jesus, our souls are made holy and pure and nothing can take that away!

~Pearls

Majoring in the Minors

It never ceases to amaze me at the number of people who claim to be Christians, yet live out their Christianity as if it is optional. They go to church, sing songs, but will curse, lie, have unholy relationships, and still expect the presence and power of God to be available to them.

Our society is a dangerous one. In one of our early studies of Daniel, writer, Beth Moore, likened our culture with that of Babylon: a culture that consumes self and rejects any form of inconvenience. Have we gone so far in our thinking, that we have adopted this mentality within our Christianity? I believe the answer is a sad, "yes".

We tend to go to church out of obligation, not even considering or interested in getting involved more than finding a comfortable pew to sit on. We evade volunteer requests, finagle our way out of donating, hide from opportunities to extend ourselves to strangers and reject ideas or opportunities that are not "the normal church thing" to do. We are majoring in the minors!

Look at us! Where is our passion? Where is our heart? Where is our motivation to be all that God has called us to be, not for ourselves, but for His kingdom?

Before I was a believer, I did all sorts of things that I regret, yet I did them with a passion, and most of the stuff I did, I really didn't even want to do them. I partied hard until all hours of the night, even when I was tired and knew I would regret it. I dated guys that I didn't even really like, because other people expected me to or because I didn't want to disappoint a friend. I wore clothes that weren't my style, I sacrificed my studies, I paid for tickets to events that didn't interest me and I listened to music that I knew was harsh and negative and dishonoring. I made a lot of sacrifices for people, friends and culture. I was all in, even if it wasn't my "thing". And I wonder how many other countless Christians there are that have similar stories:who once would arrange their lives, schedules, agendas, friendships, interests, goals and beliefs for the sake of culture. We've all done it, without question. So why, now that we belong to a new culture- the culture of Christ- do we struggle to make sacrifices and changes? Why is it so easy to say "No" to Jesus, but so difficult to say "No" to the world?

John 15:19 tells us that we are in the world, but not of it. That we no longer belong here, but are now heavenly  citizens, in Christ Jesus. If this is the case, we must consider how we live, not like the world, but like Christ. We are no longer bound to our culture, to become like them, participate or make changes to fit in with them. Our focus should be to become like Christ, participate in His agenda and make changes for him. We are outsiders, who only fit in amongst those who believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! Our motivation should be to please him, no matter what it costs, no matter how it might inconvenience us, no matter how we feel. We should be willing and excited to support that which supports our Savior. So, why aren't we? Why are we still busy trying to fit in with the culture of a dying world? Something is so wrong and sad about this. How can we be effective Christians, when we are not willing to take risks, make changes and live out of our comfort zones? How can we expect to change the world for Jesus, when we continue to allow the world to change us?

Something to think about...

~Pearls