YOU are Someone's Answer to Prayer!

I think it's safe to say that we all place value on belonging; we all want to be accepted, valued, loved and considered. We all want to have the sense of knowing that we are important and special to someone else. But, many of us have suffered from looking for such relationships in the wrong places. In High School, some of us may have tried to get approval by going against the grain; by rebelling against our parents and teachers- making choices that we'd much rather forget. In college, maybe the trend continued, or maybe, we poured ourselves into trying to find romantic relationships, our studies and our friends- not interested in letting other people into our small circle. Maybe that's not your story, but odds are, you know the pain of wanting to belong. You know the strain of hoping to be accepted and included, with no ulterior motives and no strings attached.

In my life, this has been the cause of many tears on my pillow; it has been my hearts cry through out my high school and college years and, though I am an adult now, it still pulls at my heart strings when I notice others who feel on the outside and want to be grafted in to a group- any group- that might have even an inkling of interest in them, because I understand. I understand how important it is to be apart of something or someone that we deem to be great. But if pursuing such relationships is our focus, we could be in danger of overlooking how pivotal our lives can be in adding value to others.

In Christ, there are no outsiders. There is only love and all are welcomed and included. There is no one who is too cool, too important or too good. We are all valued and held in high regard, because Christ loves us, just the way we are. I've never known so much acceptance before I met Christ, and now that I am in Christ, I see Him pour love and friendship freely into my life, through other people and for other people. And I am honored to receive and give in such a manner, not just with my friends, but in my family, in my community and in my world. I am blessed to have Pearls of Hope to pour myself into, but more importantly, I am blessed that what I pour out is not in vain. 

Pearls of Hope is not a clique. We are not an exclusive club or a secret sisterhood. We are just regular girls who followed God's love and accidentally bumped into each other along the way. We share more than casual laughs on a Friday night. We share each other's lives. We pray for one another, because we care. We pitch in to help those in need, encourage each other to believe in who God says we are and we hold each other accountable to be our upmost best out of truth and love. We're not perfect, but we trust a perfect God and He says that we belong!

This past month, we've received 2 emails from girls we've never met, who have expressed a longing to find friends who are focused on God. Neither of the authors of these emails live in North Carolina and they shared how much they wished they could find a place where they belonged. Maybe they are not alone in their feelings. Maybe, underneath it all, we just want to belong; we just want to feel loved and important. And you do! You do belong- regardless of your past, your present or your choice in future. You have a special place in Christ, if you only allow Him to produce His love in you and live in obedience in your life. I promise, the results are incredible and Christ will begin to send people your way who will encourage and support your efforts in Him!

All of us, at one time or another, felt alone. We have all felt overlooked, misunderstood and have even struggled in our Christian walk, but God knows that "it is not good for man to be alone" (Gen. 2: 18). And so, in this life with Christ, success comes when we live life corporately, not individually. God began to bring the right people at the right time and it has been a blessing that we hope to continue to share with anyone who is interested in joining us! We are friends, not because we have some secret recipe; not because we've grown up our whole lives together or even because we just have so much in common. No, our friendships are based on the one true fact that Christ loves us all and has given us a love to share with each other and with the entire world, no matter who and no matter what!

If you are still searching for a place to belong, I'd like to challenge you to pray and ask the Lord to give you friends with whom you can enjoy and encourage. Ask for guidance in choosing the right people to be apart of your life- people who will encourage you to do and be the best that you can be and people who will push you forward, not hold you back! There are so many individuals who are praying for a friend like you to enter their lives! YOU are someone's answer to prayer! Don't doubt the importance that your life brings or the impact that you can create just by walking into a room. I promise  you, you are so special, not because of what you do or who you associate yourself with, but you are special because of who loves you, and that is Christ!

Love others and let God's love shine through you! Be a friend and look for opportunities to be friendly! There is so much good we can all do in the world, but it first starts with seeking God to connect us with people that we can grow, love and learn with. No one is an island! It takes a team... a tribe, and that is what makes the journey so incredibly wonderful and fun!

Have fun, make friends and have faith!

~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