Temptation Does not Disqualify You!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.~

Hebrews 12:1-3

What is the goal and mission of the life of a Christian?  Is it just to go to church? To read you Bible? To do good things and say kind words?
Truth be told, you don't have to be a Christian to do those things! In fact, there are many different faiths who teach on the similar and simplistic values of what we have considered to be "Christian". There are unspoken social rules that will praise your for doing what is kind and fair, and condemn you for anything less. There are even good natured Atheists who make a habit of preforming such routines in their own lives, without the help of the Holy Spirit and without the salvation of Jesus. So, when you think about it, doing good things is not the crux of the Christian's purpose. Our good deeds are not more valid than someone who is not a Christian and our temptations are not fouls that disqualify us from our faith. We have been called to live above the positives and negatives that seek to distract us from our true purpose.

Goodness, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. What is good for someone doesn't mean it is good for everyone. And what was good yesterday is not guaranteed to be good today. This is how temptation enters our lives: by trying to convince us that our goodness is the standard and the measure by which God accepts me. But, according to scripture, this is far from truth. God's acceptance of me is totally based on my acceptance of Christ. When I am focused on His heart, then temptation will have no power within mine!

So, considering the scripture, how is it that we can develop our hearts to stay focused on Jesus and avoid the trap and the distraction of trying to be good? First, we must understand that focusing on Jesus doesn't mean that temptations around us will disappear. There will still be issues to face, habits to break and thoughts to battle. This is not a measure of your goodness or of your Salvation. 1 John 5:11-12 tells us that our Salvation is wrapped up in God's goodness through Jesus. If we have Salvation in Christ, then we need not fear temptation. Instead, we must use perseverance, just as Jesus persevered while He was on Earth. There were plenty of temptations, including His trial in the wilderness, when the enemy tried to tempt him (Matthew 4: 1-11). Yet in this distraction He kept His eyes on the mission- on His heavenly Father.

Hebrews 12 also brings forth another key element to staying focused: we must throw off everything that might hinder us, as well as the sins that seem to always try to get the best of us. For everyone , this will be different. Each of us struggle in different areas. My issues and temptations are different from yours. Your struggles are different from your co-workers and your co-worker's struggles will be different from their neighbors. Each of us have struggles that are uniquely specific to our own hearts and lives. Yet ALL SIN will hinder us from staying focused on Jesus and if we are not focused on Jesus, we will find ourselves drowning in temptation and ineffective for the ministry in which He has called us to complete for the Kingdom.

If goodness is the standard, then what is our need for Christ? Temptation cannot be battles by our good efforts or our positive affirmations. Jesus alone can keep us from falling, but we must keep our hearts on him! Anything that removes Christ as our priority is a hindrance to our relationship with Him, and if we are not living out our salvation in an effective manner, we are in danger of becoming a temptation for others who are watching our lives. Believers and  Non-believers are watching your life and according to this scripture, so are those Christians that have already gone before you. We are always surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses... they are cheering us on and they want us to be successful in our relationship with Christ and in our spiritual development here on earth. Even the non-believer wants to see you successful, because they are looking for something authentic. They are watching the closest because they are looking for reasons to hope and believe.

We can be "good" on our own, but there is no life change in that. Understanding that loving Jesus is not about our goodness gives us a better appreciation of God's grace, because, eventually, we will all fall in one area or another. But, when we move past a selfish faith- a faith that is only motivated by what we can get for our lives, we become humbled in the fact that we must keep our eyes, our hearts and our lives focused on Jesus. The mission is not to receive blessings, opportunities and prosperity for ourselves; our highest mission is to show the world what Love really looks like. And His name is Jesus!
Every rose has it's thorns, but that does not disqualify its beauty! We must persevere through our blessings and in our pains (and there will be many hard times), but we don't have to be afraid of our struggles or temptations, because we know that all things will work together for our good, if we only keep our focus on the Lord! (Romans 8:28). This is where our Joy comes from! Knowing that in my victory, I am encouraged, but in my weakness, God gives me His strength! Either way, we win! But, we must lay aside those things that will hinder and distract us, and
we must be sensitive to the lives that surround us- using us as their examples in the faith and looking to us as models for Christ.

Living as Christ is not a natural way of life- this is why we rely on His Holy Spirit to give us the strength and love that we need to be successful! So don't worry, God has it all under control! When you fall, confess your mess and keeping pressing on! Don't get distracted by trying to be good and don't allow your temptations to steal your confidence in Christ!!! Focus on God's love for you and let that be your motivation and your focus. I promise, it will fill your heart and spill over into the lives of those around you!
  

Be encouraged!

~Pearls

When It Snows

“When it snows, she has no fear” – Proverbs 31: 21

Much of the country consisted of snow beholders this weekend as Winter Storm Jonas came to town. 11 states declared emergency over the blizzard that swept the East Coast. There were 8,569 flight cancellations this weekend, according to CNN and more than 74,000 people without power! From the Carolinas all the way to New York, thousands of people experienced the colossal aftermath of the icy threat.

Despite many laze fair attitude towards the weather, there were plenty people who anticipated the worst, resulting in empty isle at the grocery store, traffic jams in every gas station and Christmas worthy crowds, all lined up at home improvement stores. Eggs, bread and milk all vanished like a mist and people were eager to head home and avoid the catastrophe that seemed to be impending.  And I wondered, as I watched the news and followed the forecast, how something so beautiful- something we so often attribute to childhood pleasure and fun, could hurt so many people and bring on so much panic and fear.

The impressions of snow, in scripture, and even in our modern era, I suppose, are both beautiful and alarming. Some of our great Biblical writers liken it to purity and others liken it to trouble; and there is no wonder. For any agricultural community, snow can be seen as a threat against produce and income. Its beauty, which excites children and coats the world with a crystal glow, also had the same impact to cause alarm and dread; much like the experience of this past weekend and others long before.

As we all know, scripture was written for the most part, by Middle Eastern men, who more than likely never actually experienced a snowy day; “But even though the writers may never have felt the cold touch of snow, they had in sight two mountain tops covered [with snow]”, which strong winds might have pushed down into the valley on scarce occasions (T. Hind). The point? Well, we all of us can enjoy the beauty of snow, but we seldom see its beauty when it causes us a problem.

Sometimes, in life we experience this snow effect: When what is hoped to be beautiful turns disastrous. When the relationships we anticipated leaves us disappointed, or the raise we hoped for
wasn’t quite enough; when we feel great only to find out we are truly sick, or when our hard efforts still don’t seem good enough... That is the snow effect, and sooner or later, it falls on us all. So, what are we to do about it? Should we stay locked in doors, hoping to avoid the calamity? If so, we may miss the chance to live. Instead, maybe, we can take such moments to count our blessings, search for the beauty in the trial and ask God’s guidance to see us through.

I love the scripture in Proverbs and I LOVE that it is addressed to a “SHE”!

“When it snows, SHE has no fear”!

As women, and also men, sometimes the snowstorm doesn’t seem to quit. What began as pretty anticipation starts to clobber us at every side, freezing our dreams, blowing over our hopes, crystalizing our efforts and leaving our hearts feeling very frost bitten! Oh, if only coffee or hot cocoa could melt it all away! But, in times where we are left to scrape off the ice icicles and thaw off the pain through prayer, we can do so without the company of fear. Fear makes the storm seem colder. Fear makes the snow seem more bitter than it truly is. But we know that we needn’t fear, because God has given us the spirit of power, of love and a sound mind.

In Christ, fear has no place and there is no storm that can overcome you! You are strong enough, through Christ, to wage any storm that might blow your way. You, who seek after the Lord, are equipped with love that can melt away any negativity and any weapon formed against you! You, who remain in faith and in prayer, have the gift of a sound mind- to make decisions, judgments and plans in the midst of it all.  When it snows, you have the option to brave it, without fear!

This morning, as the Weather Channel catches us all up on the aftermath of this weekend, I imagine quite a few of us will be leaving our homes with the case of cabin fever. The malls will be packed, Starbucks will be ridiculous and driveways will be shoveled- breaking way for the new week. I want to encourage you to do the same, within your heart! Ask the Lord to help you identify any fears that need to be shoveled away. Pray for the confidence you need to face any future storms, head on, or the bravery needed to deal with the aftermath of any past storms that you’ve had to face. Consider your perspective and look for the beauty in it all! Not every storm is disastrous; sometimes, they can leave us with a little shimmering glimpse of God’s goodness!

Fear Not!

~Pearls

Hope for More

There are only 5 days until Christmas and you can feel it in the air... anxiety, that is! People are hustling and bustling, just as the song says, buying this and buying that; fussing, pushing, celebrating and consuming. Just the other night, my good friend found her self in a car accident- the victim of an overstressed mom, trying to make her way down the highway towards the mall, no doubt.

I think it's hilarious how, during this time of year, people seem to loose their minds. The media is full of stories highlighting disgruntled customers and impatient people during this time of year, yet, in spite of such, underneath all the frantic reactions to this particular holiday, people are really just excited and hopeful that this year will be their year for peace, love and joy, as is the undertone of the season. This year, they might have the perfect gift, or the perfect family get together; this year, maybe broken relationships will be mended, or new romances started. Maybe this year...

As I sit back and look at my own wrapped gifts, I suddenly feel a hope for peace, love and joy myself. I hope for a closeness with family members that is just as effortless on their part as it is on mine. I hope to see my daughter grow up to be smart, kind and passionate for Christ. I hope to see my husband fulfill all of his goals and dreams and I hope to one day buy my father a boat. I hope for love to arrive in the lives of each of my friends. I hope to grow closer to God. I hope to grow closer to myself.
In my opinion, each hope that we have is like a wrapped Christmas box. We know there is something inside that must be worth the fuss of gold paper and bows, but without a giver, we will never receive what ever the gift may be. Hope is a beautiful thing. It gives us drive to do the impossible and requires a faith in what is yet to come. There is strength in hoping and lovely anticipation for the revealing of what we hope for, but hoping must have a source, otherwise it is not hope. It's merely a wish.

The cry of humanity is peace. The hope of humanity is in finding a way to usher in that peace. We sign treaties that fail, make promises that are broken, ask favors that are never returned and demand justice that is only biased. The answer to our problems is a state of peace, but what source are we hoping in? If our hope is in the government, then we will surely be let down. If our source is in our money or in our success, it will be short lived. Are we hoping in that new relationship- if so, any signs of an argument could propel us into fear, not peace. If I merely hope in my ability to attain a result, it may never come to fruition; but if I hope in a source greater than myself, then odds are, I will receive what is best for me, concerning the results in which I hope for. Jesus wants to be that source for you. He wants to be what you most hope in and hope for. The idea of gift giving is not merely of habitual tradition; it's a spiritual reality, wrapped in love, and culminated at the birth of a Prince of Peace that the world continues to hope for; though they do not always recognize it.

"For unto us a child is born...And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."- Isaiah 9:6

The peace that we hope for, pray for and fight for, can only be attained through the love of Christ. When we put our hope in Him, he delivers those results in our personal lives, and one day, will deliver those results for the souls of the whole world. When our hope is in Him, we will never be disappointed.
As we embark on yet, another Christmas, I urge us all to take some time to consider things that we hope for. What is it that our hearts truly long to see? Is it peace of mind on our jobs? Marriage? Children? A new promotion at work? Health for a family member? Direction for our dreams? Whatever it is that we want, consider the source we are using to realize these things. Is this source dependable, reliable or trustworthy? Can we expect this source to be a permanent answer, or will it only be temporary? Our hopes and dreams are too valuable to leave up to chance and our longing for peace is too precious to entrust with anyone other than the Lord. Trust in Him to give you what you need. He will never disappoint or fail you. His gifts are eternal and HIs promises are sure.

This Christmas, as we hope for peace in our hearts and peace on Earth, remember the one who was born to give us just these things! In Christ, we do not hope in vain and the peace He promises is everlasting and wrapped in love for all to receive, if we just believe!

An early Merry Christmas to you all!

~Pearls

Here are some inspiring ambitions that we Hope for. We know that Jesus is our source for all things and we have peace in our hearts in knowing that He will give us exactly what we need.

Overcoming Complaining

Good Morning to you all! This week, I had an honest discussion with the Lord about some goals I'm wanting to accomplish and I had to confess to Him (and to myself) that my motives were becoming quite selfish. It occurred to me that, deep down, I'm still struggling with the sin and issue of comparing, complaining and keeping up with the Jones'. Anyone know where I stand?

It's so easy for us all to fall into such a trap. You have an idea that you're excited about, you covered it in prayer, read up on various blogs, books and magazines, discussed your goals with trusted friends and feel amped to put the wheels in motion, but as you try moving forward, you begin to notice others who seem so much more successful with their goals than you are with yours. So you start to compare: "She is so much more creative than me", "His networking is so much stronger than mine", "They are really getting lots of attention", "That person just won another award".
It's easy to get side tracked because it's natural to notice situations around us, especially in this day and age of social communities and reality obsessions. It's difficult to complete an entire day without being informed of someone else's success. Despite our efforts to focus on our own agenda, the problems arise when our comparing turns into complaining: "She doesn't deserve that recognition", "My idea was so much better", "He didn't earn that award", "They could never do it as good as I could"...

The problem with complaining is that it occurs out of an ungrateful heart and a lack of trust in what God is doing within us. When we are not satisfied with our own circumstances, we fall prey to complaining, and eventually competing with others, overtime. This robs us of enjoying who we were specifically created to do and to be. We all have special sets of gifts, talents and strengths and each of us are at the mercy of God's timeline. Not everyone's name will be in lights. Not everyone will arise to success at the same time and not everyone's journey to their destiny will be manifested in the same way, but regardless, we have been called to rejoice when others experience success and encourage them on their way; not harboring jealousy or envying their blessings, because you never know what they had to endure within their process to get to where they are. 

In each of us, God is unfolding His perfect plan in our lives and in our hearts, if only we just trust His process and put our lives in His hands. My destiny will look different than yours and yours will look different than others, but at the end of it all, if we keep our hearts on Christ, our lives will unfold in an existence that is beautiful to behold because we put our trust in the Lord and in His leading for our lives and direction for our goals.

Scripture tells us that when we trust the Lord with the good we want to accomplish, He in  turn will make our success brilliant!

Trust in the LORD and do good... Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. ~Psalm 37:3-6

I just love that part: the justice of your cause (your goals, your endeavors) will be made to shine like the sun! See, the Lord is proud of His creation and wants to put us on display! They key to it all is to be content where God has you right now, trusting His process as you maneuver through your goals and pursue your endeavors. We must also remember that our steps are ordered by the Lord (Psalm 37: 23). So, as we strive to achieve our goals and produce our ideas, we must be diligent and stay prayerful over the direction and instruction from God, thanking Him with grateful hearts for the opportunities He's blessed us with and seeking how we can help others along the way. Ask Him to make your path clear to you and celebrate with those who are achieving success, encourage those who are needing a boost and love people as you travel along your path. Remember that when life unveils your turn for success, you will want others to celebrate with you, as well! 

Comparing takes away your focus, complaining takes away your joy. We desperately need both for the journey and cannot afford to be robbed of either. So set your sights on things above (Colossians 3:2)! Do your absolute best with what you have, full throttle. Learn from others and share your own lessons! Go hard for God, seeking His face and His approval in all that you do! His plans include you and His path is a sure win! The Jones' have their purpose and you have yours. It is unique to your life, your talents, your strengths and yes, even your weaknesses. Never doubt that you can be used of God and never underestimate the power that is unleashed when we rejoice for the goodness that is being produced in others, and in ourselves.

As I revisit my own goals, I realize that I have the unique opportunity to rejoice for my success, ahead of time, because I am learning to trust God and His process. I don't need to compare, complain or compete with anyone else. If I keep my eyes on Christ, then I will be successful and shine like the sun; my life will matter and most importantly, it will make a difference for the kingdom of God! Who I am and what I am destined to do is purposed for the glory of the Lord! I just want to be authentically who God created me to be and do what He has called me to achieve. I want to celebrate with those around me and encourage those who are still searching for their purpose.  I also want the same for you!

Trust His process!
~Pearls

The Action of Prayer

"I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me"

-Philippians 4:13

People pray a lot. Christians pray a lot. We ask for blessings. We ask for strength. We ask for guidance, purpose, direction, confirmation, husbands, jobs, success, love, faith and the list goes on. But what happens when we get off of our knees? What happens when the pages of scripture is closed and the day begins? Are we motivated to act out our faith? Are we living by Philippians, that we can accomplish anything in Jesus? Do we live as if we cannot fail in Christ?

Time and time again, we get encouraged by other people's stories. We see the effects of prayer in the lives of family members and close friends, even strangers. We read their books, visit their blogs, repost their statuses and admire their relationships with God, but for some reason, we find it hard to grasp the concept that the same God who loves them, loves us. The same God who hears them, hears us. The same God who sees them, sees us, and He is waiting on our action to approach Him in confidence and faith.

A relationship with God is not a VIP members only spot. There will never be a Christian who is better than another. God does not have favorites and He is not more impressed with one person over the next. There is nothing we can do to get more of His attention, we already have it all!!! When we are struggling, He sees us and loves us through it. When we are victorious, He celebrates with us, because He delights in seeing our excitement in Him. Our passions, our drive, our hopes and each complexity of our lives is so very concerning to the Lord and He has given us His precious Holy Spirit to ensure that we accomplish all things that He, Himself, has purposed for us to do. This includes our careers, our future marriages, our current marriages and children, our ideas, our dreams and all of our compartmentalized realities that we face, daily. God is in the midst, but He is waiting for us to acknowledge Him, first and for us to put our faith in Him.

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to You." - James 4:8

When we begin to move past merely acknowledging God and start actively seeking Him, He begins to make Himself known to us in ways unimaginable. He begins to move within our lives and develop His strength within us to do "all things". There is nothing that is beyond God and so therefore there is nothing that is beyond us. His power and His authority become evident in our lives, once we invite God to become evident in our hearts. What once seemed impossible to do, becomes possible with the Lord. Millions of people have experienced this, both in the past and in the present. The tools they all use is active faith in a powerful God. Their stories begin with prayer and end in action. They are not the result of privileged access and their relationship with God is not exclusive. Power spills in their lives because they believe and they walk in answered prayer because their faith produces action and confidence in the Lord. Whats more amazing is that God wants to move in your life as well. He hasn't met His quota with people in the past. He is still eagerly anticipating hearts who are earnestly seeking Him and want more of His presence in their lives.

This week, I'd like to challenge us to act out our faith in the doing, not just in the praying and believing, alone. Believing has it's place. Faith has its place; but faith without works is dead. James teaches us, "But some will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works (James 2:18). We need to move past the act of wanting faith and move into the action of living out our faith. We have all the confirmation we need, through Jesus, and as we live out His word in our lives, He will direct our paths! It's easier said then done, I understand, but the best way to increase your faith is to increase your prayer life. Here are some scriptures that can help you on your way as you develop a life of prayer and take those first steps in seeking  God and drawing close to Him.

Start by asking God to help you believe (Mark 9:24)
Confess any sins (mistakes, struggles, wrongful motives) that you have encountered (1 John 1:9)
Begin to read scripture for understanding, not for information (Proverbs 3:5)
Invite God's presence into your life by seeking Him and His ways (Jeremiah 29:13)
Practice Thankfulness and a willingness to obey (Colossians 3:17)

As you begin to move toward a real relationship with Christ, your prayer life will begin to increase, automatically. You will begin to experience the joy of living in God's presence and the confidence in knowing the Love of God, first hand. Power will begin to grow within you, as you begin to grow in God and the faith required to accomplish all things, will be fed through scripture and through your own experience and journey with Jesus. This process is not without it's ups and downs, but we can be encouraged by knowing that God is not distant; He is ever near, waiting for us to call on His name and desire more of Him in the every day living.

Enjoy the living! Be like Jesus! Love like Jesus!
~Pearls

The Conditions of Our Hearts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

~Pearls

Polished

There is an aura of relaxation and self-preservation connected to the feminine experience of the Nail Salon. It's a place of comfort and refuge from a hectic day at work, or an apparatus of expectation- the middle ground between the ordinary and the fabulous. For most women, there is something pleasurably satisfying about leaving the nail salon with a  fresh mani-pedi. You walked in with dull, chipped, peeling color, only to leave with fresh, clean and shining nails. It's a wonderful feeling. It's a lot like our Spiritual process. Let me explain.

There was once a time when I used to do my own nails. Convinced that I was saving money for other things and reluctant to become dependent on someone else, I casually purchased cheap polishes that averaged around $6 dollars or so. I had an entire collection of vivid colors. I kept my nails trimmed and had cotton balls on hand. I would take my time to touch each finger tip and patiently wait for the coat to dry. The end results were pretty... but sadly, extremely temporary. There were even instances where I had to re-do my nails twice in one day or suffer the "crack-effect", due to my cheapness. So, one day, I decided to stop shopping at Walmart for my nail color. I would, instead, invest in more salon quality nail products. I began to pay the $12 dollar fee for more expensive brands and I even invested in a top coat. The laquer and upgrade in quality really made a difference! It had more of a luster in appearance, maintained it's condition for almost twice the time as the cheaper brands and it seemed to me that I was still able to hold onto my own ability to appease my appearance and control of my wallet. Although there were definitely notable positives to my nail polish upgrade, the higher quality came with some side effects. For one, the wait time for drying took much longer and since I did not have my own nail dryer, often enough I ended up waisting time and product due to reapplication of one finger or another because of smudges, scrapes and demarkations. See, the more expensive polishes require more drying time. It may have appeared to be dry on the outside, but the undercoats were often times still damp, unbeknownst to me. Another side effect was the new fumes. Cheap polish doesn't carry as heavy a smell as more salon quality polishes. It took me a while to get used to whiffs of colored chemicals, which of course was accompanied by the need to use stronger nail polish removers. These side effects obviously didn't chase me away from doing my own nails, but over time, it became a hassle.

Friends of mine would urge me to go to the salon with them. I always would insist, however, that I didn't need to. I knew how to do my own nails. I was saving my time and money... but was I really? Probably not. Considering the time alone that it took to apply, re-apply, remove and apply again due to smears and smudges, chips and cracks, I ended up waisting more money than I actually saved and Lord only know how much time it cost me! But in my mind, I was convinced that I could do it on my own. I remember the first time I stepped foot into a nail salon, I was a skeptic. I honestly had no desire to be there, but after numerous invitations, I finally accompanied my friend Kourtney one day after classes. She wanted me to join in the seat next to her, but I declined. I didn't need someone else to do for me what I thought I could do for myself. I felt self-sufficient, but I watched as she placed her hands into the palms of the lady across from her. They had friendly conversation with each other, as the women stripped away the old color and prepared her hands for the new. The women were friendly and very attentive. They helped my friend choose her color, complimented her on her selection, massaged her hands and feet, shared laughs and stories and within an hour, her nails and toes were done. I was astonished to learn that she was able to keep the same color for 2 weeks! I remember glancing down at my nails, shiny, but already cracking; but that initial visit wasn't enough for me to change my mind. Leaving that nail salon, I felt intrigued because it wasn't just about nails... it was an entire experience that my friend could look forward to. It was an opportunity to be taken care of by professionals who made a job feel like an art. She was well taken care of. I secretly became curious about what that might be like for me.

Occasionally, I would go back to the Salon with Kourt... but only to accompany her. I wouldn't order
any services for myself. Even when a lady once urged me to let her take care of me, I kindly said, "no thank you", but really, I wanted to say, "ok". It did look very relaxing and beneficial, I just wasn't willing to part with my own routine of doing things my way. I didn't need her to do something that I could do for myself; or so I thought. It was honestly years before I got desperate enough to venture into a nail salon on my own. I had finally gotten so frustrated with trying to manage myself in my own hands. My left hand was always shaky, causing my right nails to look a hot mess. Cracks seemed to magically appear, no matter how much of a top coat I would use and chips and smudges were inevitable! The moment I felt satisfied with my own work, something would smudge or I'd accidentally knock my hand on the counter and ruin my hard efforts. After a few days, the polish would chip and loose it's shine. It was a mess! I was frustrated.
The first time I went to get my nails done, I'll never forget it. It was for an interview and I wanted to feel confident. I was nervous because I didn't want to pay a ridiculous fee and I was afraid that it would be a waist of time. I was hesitant to trust a stranger to make me look good. What if she was rude and started to speak a different language around me? What if they didn't have any colors that I liked? What if they were expensive? What if, after all the time and money, my nails still chipped? I had all these doubts in my mind, but I figured I should at least give it a try; why not? As I sat in the warm leather chair and chose my services, I can honestly say, the experience delighted me so much that I regret ever taking so long to try it! the women were friendly, diligent and had loads of suggestions. The woman who helped me was very bubbly and sweet and has never forgotten my name. I've been seeing Mrs. Lee for over 2 years now. She knows all about my career, my favorite colors, my sweet marriage and my pregnancy. I know about her home life in Cambodia, all three of her children, how she and her husband started this business from nothing and we have developed some funny jokes between the two of us. Not to mention, my nails are healthy and strong and always very pristine! For years, I was missing out on such a comforting and enjoyable experience, although I didn't even know it.

Many people, convinced that they can do life by themselves, miss out on the wonderful experience of

knowing Jesus. They think that putting their trust in the Lord is a waist of time. They see their friends or family going to church and reading the Bible, they might even join in on a service every now and then or pray when they need assistance, but in their minds, they have control over their own lives and they really don't feel the need for help from God or anybody else. They might notice things here and there in their lives that aren't up to par, so in their own attempts they try to upgrade themselves, just like I tried to upgrade my polish products. For a while, it seems to do the trick for them. They might go on a non-drinking fast for a couple of weeks, no-sex for the first few dates, they might try to loose weight or try a new hobby, quite a bad habit or change their wardrobe; so many attempts for their own personal self-maintenance, but it's only temporary. On the outside, it may appear that life is good, but underneath their top coat, stuff is still wet and unfinished. Like my nails, the cracks in life eventually begin to surface. They get hit with unexpected events that cause smudges and demarkations in their plans to stay in control. No matter how hard they try and no matter how many different upgrades, changes, investments and alterations they make, it still isn't enough and they begin to question their abilities. Those who have the heart of wisdom eventually come to the understanding that they cannot change their hearts on their own; they cannot maintain the God standard in their own efforts. Others continue to wander, trying this product or that technique, never truly finding satisfaction. We all were once there and I thank God for all the spiritual Kourtneys that aren't afraid to invite us into places of love and offer us the opportunity to experience what it's like to put our lives in the hands of someone who is more capable of governing us than we are.

In our own efforts, we think we are saving ourselves; but truly, we are just waisting time. Going round and round in circles of our own efforts, our control, our abilities and our way only leads to a life lacking in luster and full of chipped frustration. But when we allow ourselves to trust in the Lord, place our faith in His suggestions for our lives, rest ourselves in His ability to color our hearts with His love and relax in the joy of the experience of Salvation, well... that's when we really start to shine!

Ephesians 2:8 tells us that Salvation (being accepted by God) will never happen in our own efforts. Instead, God invites us to come to Him, through Jesus, to experience His love and life changing power that we can never attain on our own. It is a gift, a treasure, a permanent establishment of His presence and His perfection in our lives. No, we will never be perfect. The smudges of our past might always grip our minds, but in Jesus, they don't have the power to grip our lives. He asks us for our chipped hearts and smudged up lives, in exchange for his permanent radiance and eternal coat of glory! Christ calls to each of us, saying:
 "Come, take a seat. Give me your hands...give me your heart...give me your life. I have big plans for you! I have desires to make you shine and radiate in this world and in the next! You don't have to live in frustration any more. I know you are trying to improve yourself. I know you are afraid of letting go of control. You think you have found a short cut, but it only has you running in circles. Let me message your messes out of your life. Let me wash you with the water of my word. Let me give you a new life, one that will not fade away or loose its shine over ime. Let me coat you with my joy, my peace, my confidence and my hope. Let me laugh with you and share my heart with you. I have much to offer you that you could never acquire on your own. Trust me. Give me your hands...give me your heart...give me your life."


He wants so much more than to just change your exterior or the color of your experiences; He wants to change your life and polish your heart! He wants to establish a beauty within you that will not fade or peel away. Will you let Him? I pray that you do! I pray that we all will one day fully understand and experience how Salvation can polish our lives and radiate our existence with the eternal luster that only comes from knowing Jesus!

Trust Him with your hands...with your heart and with your life! I promise, you will not be disappointed.
~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

Let Our Faith Be More Than Anthems

In light of recent tragedy that has yet again struck our nation, there has been a lot of debate on prayer vs action. People seem to be overtaken with feelings of anger, unfairness, bitterness and ultimately, unbelief. To some, the tragedy in Charleston was an act of an angry and unconcerned god- too preoccupied with the affairs of other groups of people than to be bothered by the slaughtering in South Carolina. One Facebook quote, which received a multitude of "likes" stated:

"I say how about we stop praying all together and start doing...it's time for change and none of that peaceful [stuff]...We pray, we get beaten. We pray, we get robbed. We pray...we get shot up in our own churches with our heads bowed...action is what is needed, not more prayer".

To read such statements is shocking, to say the least, but what is more absurd is that people, collectively, seem to agree and commend this mindset. I realize, not to belittle anyone's experience, frustrations or sorrows, that people are suffering, but we cannot become so blinded to our own hurts that we fail to realize that others all over the world are suffering too. It is the situational circumstance of sin that ushers in the pain and sorrow that we so heavily feel, and the only victor of sin and death, is God, through Christ alone. If we stop praying, then where is our victory? If we stop seeking the face of God, then we will surely be overtaken.


"The worse thing we could ever do is stop our communication with God"~ Brittany Crenshaw, Pearls of Hope.

Prayer is a tool that God uses to access our hearts. When our hearts change, our outlooks change and when our outlooks change, our action changes. The issues that are among us, whether Black, or White, Middle Eastern or Asian, is not what we can see with our own two eyes, but rather what is working invisibly against us, which can only be combated through prayer. Yet people will insist, "Prayer doesn't work. I've tried praying and nothing ever happens".  My response to this argument is this: When we pray, we must first recognize that God is not a genie to grant our every wish. There are certain criteria, based on scripture, that give us access to this Supreme God, and anything less than what He requires will result in unanswered prayer.
In this article, let's take a look, through God's on Word, on what institutes effective prayer and what we need to do in order to see results from Heaven.

1) First, before we can expect to hear from God, we need to realize that it is a relationship with Christ that turns His ear and gains His attention. We cannot ask of someone who does not know us and then be shocked when their response is not what we seek. That's like me asking your father for $20. He might have it, but he doesn't know me, so why should he give it to me? When we pray, we must humble ourselves and offer our hearts to God, acknowledging our need for Him and receiving His love for us. So the first step in answered prayer is developing an honest relationship with God (John 15:7).

2) Next, we must live a life of obedience, which Christ tells us is synonymous with Love. "Jesus replied,"Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them (John 14:23)". Loving Jesus means more than pretty words on bended knees, or making promises to get out of a jam. It's a true life commitment and service- a courageous act of following His ways, no matter the cost. When we live a life of obedience and love, God's Spirit grows strong within us and the requests of our hearts are heard (Proverbs 28:9; 1 John 3:22).

3) In alignment with living in obedience, we have to be sure that we are confessing all sin and turning away from what is evil. God is light and light cannot entertain the darkness. Yes, we sin every day, but cherished sin- sin that is purposefully practiced and repeated out of enjoyment, excuses or lust, lays up a wall between our prayers and God's answers. Sin cuts us off from The Lord; but obedience opens the door (Psalm 66:18; 1 John 1:7-9).

4) When we have examined our hearts, we can pray with confidence to a God who loves and cares for us. It is not His desire that we suffer alone. Jesus said, “In this life you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)". Pain, suffering and issues are automatic with life. It's the effects of sin- which is a sickness of the soul as well as of the human experience. We live in an ungodly and evil world, yet we do not need to fear, because Christ has already won the victory and given it to those who bear His name in obedience! When we pray, we can trust that God hears us if we are living according to His word. And if He hears us, he will answer us; so we can pray with boldness and confidence, not doubting, but believing with great expectation! (1 John 5:14-15).

5) The last criteria for answered prayer is to be sure that when we do pray, we are without grudge or unforgiveness towards anyone. This one is so detrimental, because we often overlook the significance of our forgiveness towards others. If we ask of God to forgive us and pardon our mistakes, how dare we with-hold the same opportunity from someone of whom we are just as guilty as? Remember, we are all sinners and full of fault. It is by God's grace that we can access a freedom through our sin. It is not our right to deny the same gift that we have been given. In so doing, we block ourselves and our prayers from God, who does not tolerate what is evil. So, if your desire is to have answered prayers in you life, forgive without complaint. Don't seek restitution or revenge. Let it go and be free! (Matthew 5: 23-24; Matthew 6: 14).

In this time of trouble and uncertainty, there is only one absolute truth: Our God has given us His love, though Jesus, and has made a way for us to have open communication with Him, through His Holy Spirit, because He is a good Father who loves to hear from His children. Yes, there are terrible things that happen in the world. Yes, there are times when God does seem so far away, but we can believe that He is always near, based upon His word and promises within the scriptures. Though, on the one hand, people seem to be too impatient to ask of God, it is obvious that the hearts of mankind are eagerly looking for a way to reach Him. They want to take matters into their own hands because they are not aware of how to access God and so, in their frustrations, they give up. I urge you, Don't Give Up! Keep praying, keep seeking, keep asking and keep knocking! Seek the Lord with your whole heart and He will show Himself to you.

Prayer is a powerful tool, yet on the other side, faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26).

As we pray in confidence, we should seek The Lord to determine what action He would want us to take! He will guide us if we keep our hearts steady on Him! Our faith is more than platitudes and pretty words. It is deeper than an anthem that we sing when times are good. True faith becomes revealed during the hard times and tragedies that are inevitable in this life. Yet it is through these difficult and confusing times where God's Spirit addresses the faithful and produces power through our prayers.

Be encouraged, and Never Stop Praying!

~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

Give Your Dreams To God

A thought interrupted my prayer today: "Lord, my heart is willing, but my direction is unknown".
How many times in our lives do we say that? How many times in our days? I find myself turning these words over and over within me, at any given moment, buecause like many I'm sure, I struggle with the aspirations of having faith and the actual practice, itself.

Faith is what we hope for, yet cannot see. Faith is having a dream or a goal, yet no thinkable means as to how to create it into a reality. Tell me this: why is it that some people can create conglomerates out of absolutely nothing, while others struggle to launch? The ingredient is Faith.

Scripture tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), so then what are we left yo do? How do we navigate through waters of doubt, unscathed by fear of the unknown or worries about tomorrow? How are we suppose to handle dreams that seem too big or plans that fall apart at the very intent?

Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.~1 Peter 1:21

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ~1 John 5:4

So that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power. ~1 Corinthians 2:5

It strikes me profoundly that each of these scriptures, and others throughout the Bible, tell us that the source of our faith is not in faith alone. It's not our dreams that we need to build our beliefs in. It's not our determination and perseverance that we need to hold tightly to or increase in order for our aspirations to survive. No. If we want to grow our faith to the magnitude in which our hopes are seen and our dreams are realized, we have to rely on God, who gives faith and allows the outcome for dreams, for hopes and for goals. It is in Him, and only Him, where the mustard seeds of our faith can grow. God is our source, not the seed.

As of late, I've been very overwhelmed with the unrealistic expectations of my own dreams. If I were to tell you what's been in my heart, you might think, "well how do you think that can happen?".  Even as I bring my dreams to Jesus, I tell him, "Lord, I know this seems impossible, but it can happen if you open the doors for me". See, I realize that I have nothing to offer to ensure my dreams come true. I don't have the resources, the required degrees, the experience or the connections to do what I feel God has placed in my heart. Yet I know it's there for a reason and the vision sparks a light in me! I am excited about this dream- I am hopeful in what may one day come, but I must remind myself, even as I am doing now, that if not placed properly in God's will or in Him as my source, my dreams will be misplaced and my faith will never grow.

D.L. Moody, a 19th century evangelist, wrote, “A little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul.” Isn't time we experienced Heaven in a personal way? Don't you want to partake in active faith, not just wish about it, but live it out? I know I do! I want my own story to tell about the acts of God and His response to my faith in His promises! I want to use my lack as fuel for my faith in The Lord, who never lacks. He never needs to ask or borrow from anyone, so why do we hesitate to start with Him?

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. ~John 14:12

When we put our faith in The Lord, there is no limit to what He can do, through us! We don't need to be afraid or embarrassed about our hopes and dreams with our Heavenly Father. He loves us and He wants us to come to Him in all that we do. I'm Let's do great works, through our faith in God! You
and I can impact the nation...we can impact the world, but it takes faith in a God who is always faithful! He will never disappoint us. He will never give to us less than who He is!

Keep the Faith!

~Pearls