Two Eyes are Better Than One!

We are living in a day when moral codes are being muddled with personal perception, idealisms and cultural opinions. What is right for her is not necessarily right for you. What you feel comfortable doing should not be subjected onto others around you who may feel differently. You have the right to live your life in whatever way you choose, regardless of what others say, because it is your personal business...or so we are told.

In our culture, we can dress how we want, say what we want, date who we want and make our money the way we want, but if anyone opposes us or disagrees with us, we put the "Hater" stamp across their  foreheads and reject them for their "intolerance". There is no longer an interest for absolute truth. The individual makes (and therefore changes) the rules, as they see fit. Nothing is set in stone. Everything can be altered, turned around and excused. Husbands can leave wives for someone younger because they choose to. Women can prance around with barely there clothes in order to express themselves or "make a statement". Children sue their parents. People change their genders. Liars create empires. Thieves walk out of courtrooms, unscathed...let the chaos begin!

We are told that there is freedom in doing however you please, but honestly, how well has that worked out for any of us? Truth be told, we need boundaries. We need guidance and instructions on how to live this life because, left to our own devices, we have the tendency to muddle things up.     As a college student, I came across many uncomfortable situations where I rejected those who tried to correct me, only to then experience the sting of being rejected by those whom I tried to correct later on down the road. It definitely is a catch 22. In the events of both experiences, love was always the motivator. People who loved me didn't want to see me continue down the path I had chosen because they knew it would end in devastation- which it did; but of course I didn't listen until it was too late. Once I began to walk in obedience and accountability in Christ, it became an urgency for me to want to help others avoid calamities as well.

When you love, it is a natural tendency to harold out warnings in efforts to help; but by doing so, we risk the displeasure of those for whom we love. It can be a very lonely life when we put ourselves in the position to speak truth to people who are only interested in living according to their own perceptions. The problem with perception however, is that it is only one sided. You can only see the situation based on your own awareness and biased notions. What seems like an oasis, could really just be a mirage and what appears to be gold, could really be nothing more than glass in the sand. Many of us know what it's like to be fooled by our own perception and misguided vision. We bear the disappointment of mistakes as the aftermath. But for those who have grown in spiritual maturity- they can see where other's can't and are in the position to lovingly lead us to truth, if we allow them. They can recognize that two eyes are better than one! Sometimes, this guidance occurs in the manner of advice, examples or correction, which is only ever for our good when it lines up with scripture.

Luke 17:3 tells us plainly to provide correction to our brothers and sisters when we see them doing wrong, but celebrate with them when they are doing right. It is our obligation to hold each other accountable and to allow others to take this position in our lives as well. The problem occurs, however when we tend to want to correct everyone else, but insist that we ourselves are always right- finding excuses to justify our own one-sided perceptions and circumstances. This is hypocrisy. It is dangerous and always futile. Ladies, we must learn to love encouragement as well as correction.

Remember, "Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in Him" (Proverbs 30:5 NIV). As we grow closer to the Lord, our hearts desire is to obey Him and trust Him, because we know He is good! This includes listening and learning from those He's placed around us, who are living according to His word. In my own recent experience, I have come across an area of my life where I needed correction and of course, no one wants that. It's easier to excuse it away, or sweep it under the rug. I came up with some  pretty good rationalizations and mentally justified my faults, but what good is it to live your life purposefully with one eye closed? Imagine! The opportunities on the right would never be available to us, if we kept our right eye closed and the experiences on the left would pass us by if we never opened our left eye.

All around us, God has placed people who love us and want to guide us into success and purposeful living. We pray for answers, but reject those that He places in our paths who are willing to guide us to those answers. We ask for confirmations, but we turn up our noses at individuals who love us enough to show us our faults. We beg for vision, but we deny the power that comes from the good examples that God places in our paths. The answer is there but who can see clearly with one eye closed? We need the guidance of those around us who can see clearly, through the lenses of scripture and proven
experiences.

Despite what our culture tells us, this life is not all about us. As members of the body of Christ, it is key that we support one another in love, while maintaining biblical standards and holding ourselves and each other accountable in truth. We each have goals and plans that we want to see accomplished, and there is nothing wrong with that. When we align ourselves with mature Believers, we can walk under a covering of continued prayer, support and direction. This life was never meant to be lived alone and isolated within our own efforts. The body needs both eyes to navigate clearly. On our own, we are limited; but when we align ourselves with others for the cause and sake of Christ, there can be no stopping us!

In our lives, lets begin to examine ourselves and look intently into the mindset that we carry: Are we so full of pride that we insist on living life with an "I"m going to do what I want to do" attitude? Do we live as if we are our own masters and in need of no one's help? How has that worked out for us in the past? If you've had success doing your own thing regardless of the consequences, then by all means...keep at it! But I'm confident to say that the majority of us have some emotional, spiritual and even physical scars from trying to live our life wholly based on our own perceptions. When you look over the past few years, was there a situation where you wish you had have listened to that person, or taken some advice more seriously? It's never too late to start living in accountability! In my experience, it is the gate God uses to keep us from the wolves!

I urge you to consider people in your life who could be your accountability partner. Pray and ask the Lord to guide you and usher in people who will love you and hold you up! Choose those who you know are living Godly and uncompromising lives for the Lord. By aligning yourself in obedience alongside with them and trusting God to use His love to guide you, you might start to notice that life is much more beautiful with both eyes wide opened!

Keep your eyes on Jesus!

Katrina McCain, President

Strength is Evident in the Crisis

 It's the normal assumption that good deeds should be rewarded: Going to college should get you a good job, being respectful should earn you respect, showing yourself friendly should earn you lots of friends. In some cases, this is true. But spiritually thinking, it's honestly when we are doing what is right when wrong comes to pay us a visit! This is why, more and more, we are hearing the buzz that Christianity "doesn't work". No body wants to endure unpleasantries or discomfort. We want a quick fix and the least amount of effort, difficulty or struggle in our lives.  If something seems laborious or tedious, we try to avoid it. It is a debilitating mistake to assume that being  christian means that only blessings lay in store for you and I honestly blame the pulpit. There are so many messages being spewed from sanctuaries that following Christ results in financial abundance, opportunity and continuous prosperity in every endeavor one would seek to pursue. But when we look to scripture, we see that this is simply not the case. Giving our hearts to Jesus is like signing our name for warfare. From the start, we automatically have the victory, in Christ, but my sister, understand there will be hard times ahead.

As a result of the disciples following Jesus, they lost their social standing, their homes, their families and their wealth. Peter, James and John lost their fishing career, Paul lost his political status, Mary lost her good reputation and John the Baptist lost his head! But see, they knew that greater glory was worth the risk. It is my passion not to fall prey to the misconception that problems disappear once I follow Jesus because if I am only following Jesus for what I think I can get out of it, then that is not true Christianity; that is not true devotion.
In our earthy relationships, we are taught to date people who can make us happy, meet our needs, show us a good time and make us feel good about ourselves. And sadly, this perspective has crept into the church, where we then have projected this same expectation on Christ: "If I serve God then He has to bless me and give me the desires of my heart and lead me into my purpose and give me favor and keep me on the mountain top and make a way out of no way for me..."!
My loves, if God does nothing else but just pour His grace and mercy on us, that is more than enough! We must check the motives of our hearts and remember that Jesus suffered for our sakes... is it too much that He expects our willingness to do the same for Him? And if that time ever comes, do we love Him enough to be strong and courageous throughout the storm? Or will we jump ship when the boat feels too rocky? Are we equipping ourselves to fight through faith? Are we strong soldiers or simply spiritual civilians on the sidelines?

It has always been my personal belief that strength is evident in the crisis, not in the oasis. Yes, we

can feel uplifted in church, when the choir sings our song, but what happens in the real life situations? Are we prepared to stand firm in the midst of the fire? Do we posses the courage we need to combat our struggles and win the battles that each day has in store for us? We can declare all we want, but the truth of our hearts beam brightest in the dark.
I am reminded of what my father has always told me, "the mark of a strong relationship is in the arguments. You don't know what type of man you are dealing with until he becomes angry. The actions, words, and attitude that he displays in his anger is the true refection of what is already in his heart". So, the first argument I had with my boyfriend (now husband), he still held my hand and he still opened my door for me; he still kissed me good night and he still said, "Ill call you tomorrow". He was pissed, but still showed love. He could have said, "look, I'm not trying to deal with all of this". He could have jumped ship, especially because that particular argument was my fault! But, he showed strength and courage. It's easier to walk away, because walking away doesn't require any work. In fact, it is selfish and self is only interested in what is minimal effort. Self is seeking the blessing, but not the effort. Self is only wanting what is pleasing to me- never mind you, until I am satisfied. Sadly, we have been so accustomed to holding others in this regard, that it begins to pour out into our relationship with Christ. Instead of fighting for our faith, we walk away in pursuit of our comfort. We can spiritually choose to go A-wall on our salvation because, it's easier. But we have not been called to an easy life in Christ. We have been called to a victorious life! The temptations and distractions of this world seem immense. At times, it doesn't even look possible that we can overcome the trials that so many of us face, but greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4)!

We don't want to suffer or wait. We don't want to practice patience or the integrity that is produced in difficult times. We don't want to be inconvenienced. But all of that is necessary if we ever hope to experience the glory that awaits in Christ! It's easy to do things the easy way, but the results of easy are never long lasting. To walk in purity and truth, kindness and forgiveness, patience and graciousness, in the midst of chaos and unpleasantries... this is true strength and undeniable courage! It is the call of each Christian, as she lives out her daily life and makes her life choices: Do I press on in this storm maintaining the likeness of Christ, or do I find an easy way out and avoid the difficulties?

Self preservation will always be the death of us! It will kill our opportunities to shine like Jesus! It will destroy the seed that God is growing in you and will close the door to the destination of your purpose and calling. Every struggle, trial, dilemma and hardship we endure when we choose to do what pleases the Lord makes us stronger in this life and prepares us for the next. Remember, all suffering is seasonal. It doesn't last forever, but the glory and the rewards that await are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17)! Each season sets our path for the next journey, but through it all, God is there. He is preparing, pruning, growing and digging up all that He desires for us. He is the vine and we are the branches (John 15:5)! In order for the flowers to grow, the earth must first be broken. The soil must be turned over, so that the roots will grow deep and produce the garden. But if the earth is unwilling to go through it's season of brokenness, then it will never have the opportunity to display any beauty.
There is so much beauty that God wants to produce in you! But you and I cannot be afraid to sojourn through the war. This is where His word has the platform to truly ring in our hearts and produce the choices, decisions and reactions that are necessary to give Him the Glory- ultimately blessing us in the process! We cannot be afraid to fight in the battle, because we have already won the victory, and freedom is ours, in Christ!

"Thanks be to God! He has given us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ!" ~ 1 Corinthians 15:57

Be Strong and Courageous! Don't avoid the trials or the storm. God is growing a garden and wants to put you on display! Your victory is in Jesus and through Him, you are a champion!

Stay strong, my sisters! And Happy Independence day to you all!
~Pearls

Be YOU! Be BEAUTIFUL!

What does Beauty mean to you? This is a question that the girls of Pearls would like to share with the world! Beauty is more than a trend of what is "in" and "out". It's more than what the media wants to force on us, because Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that beholder is the Lord! We are are beautiful in His eyes and we rely on His beauty to make us shine bright!

Please watch and enjoy!

Pearls of Wisdom: 5 Ways to Avoid Making a Mess of Things

When it comes to making mistakes, I am Queen!!! 

I always find myself saying the wrong thing, doing the wrong thing, making wrong assumptions and then feeling completely stupid and embarrassed afterwards. Mistakes follow me because, well... I'm human. I'm impulsive. I'm reactive. And though I want to make wise choices, sometimes, what seems wise at the moment reveals itself to be yet another mistake. Am I alone? Odds are, I'm not. Odds are, you can look back over your life... over the last 30 days even, and recognize some unwise choices you've made. As we mature into adults, the expectation is that we will grow wiser. But wisdom is not a coming of age attribute. It is not acquired by the being or the existing; rather, it is received by the seeking. Wisdom is a spiritual gift and one that must be practiced, pursued and  prayed for. It is not an accidental accomplishment.

King Solomon, the wisest man recorded in scripture, writes several books in the Bible dedicated to  wisdom and how one can acquire it. He uses personification to liken wisdom to a woman: something that should be beautifully desired and cherished. I love that! Wisdom, according to King Solomon, should take on the role of a lover, a sister and an intimate friend (Proverbs 7:4). He also uses illustrations and mistakes from his own life to compose the book of Proverbs and Ecclesiates, which, if you are not aware, will set your heart on the path to wisdom, if you are willing to expose yourself to its truths.

King Solomon, for those of you who do not know, became king at a young age (approximately 20 years old). When asked by the Lord for a gift of his choosing, Solomon answered, "Wisdom and a discerning heart" (1 Kings 3:8). Scripture goes on to say that the Lord was very pleased with Solomon's request. As a result, Solomon was not only the wisest, but also the most wealthy of any King in all the world, both in his time and in ours. We cannot imagine or fathom the riches this man possessed: Gold, Jewels, Power, even the Queen of Sheba! But, even among the midst of all of his fame, success and riches, Solomon continued to remind himself and us that wisdom is the most precious of any riches that man can obtain. When it came to wisdom, Solomon was King!

"Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live. Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you. She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.” My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble. Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life."
-Proverbs 4:4-13

In this passage, we can uncover the key elements of obtaining wisdom and how this will produce within us a life of success for ourselves and an example for others. Wisdom will crown our lives and provide protection, success, honor, beauty and long life. If we do things God's way, we are guaranteed to experience these elements of prosperity because they are a reward to those who seek wisdom, which, as scripture teaches, comes from God (Proverbs 1:7).

1. First, we must recognize that wisdom is a spiritual principle. It can't be acquired through books or late night cram sessions. It's a condition of the heart; a willingness to live based on the guidance and instruction of the Lord and those who are in spiritual maturity who love you and who lead by example. It's more than simply good advice. Wisdom is rooted in trust and obedience.

2. Although we can become smarter by making our own mistakes and learning from those lessons, true wisdom is exercised by avoiding those mistakes all together. According to Scripture, who ever trusts in their own thoughts is a fool (Proverbs 28:26). Instead of trying to do things on our own, wisdom requires a relinquishing of our pride and an admittance that we need support and direction in this life. By nature, it seems that we are rebellious creatures and we tend to make choices out of haste; yet "Wisdom cries out... since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you—when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you"(Proverbs 1: 24-27).
None of us are naturally wise (1 Corintians 3:18)! But those who seek wisdom heed the warnings from those who are spiritually sound and experienced in living life. If we refuse, we have no one to blame but ourselves for the consequences we will surely suffer. It's our generations' misguided downfall that we can live without regrets. This is not true. When we don't heed wisdom, regrets are sure to follow. Wisdom eliminates disaster and distress.

3. The third way to avoid making mistakes is to recognize that Wisdom must be sought after. It won't be an accidental addition to your life. There must be a pursued hunger to gain wisdom. Ways in which to seek after her is through humbling ourselves to ask questions and advice. Pride keeps us from exposing our struggles to others. We don't want people to know that we are lacking in an area or suffering in another, so we keep it to ourselves, avoid people, lie and make excuses; all which scream UNWISE! If we want to truly live in Wisdom, then we must become vulnerable- facing the truth that we all need help and then seeking the necessary people of whom will guide us. The first step in seeking such help is Prayer! As we pray and ask the Lord to expose our hearts, we can also ask Him to guide us towards people who can pour into us, encourage us and guide us in wisdom. Trust me, it might be difficult and even embarrassing, but the alternative can be destructive to our very purpose and path in life.

4. Once we have aligned ourselves with wise people, the next step is to practice wisdom, purposefully. This basically means that acquiring wisdom far exceeds having a good conversation. How does it benefit anyone to hear wisdom, be taught wisdom and then continue to do the opposite?
I for one get very frustrated when people ask my advice and then don't practice it. It's difficult to pour your heart into helping someone, only for them to take your words and essentially disregard them. I by no means am comparing myself to the Spirit of God, but I imagine He gets a little peeved when we have access to scripture and all it's wisdom, yet don't apply it. We are so blessed in this country to have the freedom of accessing wisdom through God's word. We have access to scripture through our Bibles, through church, through the internet and apps. We can download, upload, order and sing scripture if we want to; yet how much of that is laid on the way side, as we neglect this wisdom in order to figure things out on our own? Doing such puts us at a disadvantage: not just spiritually, but practically as well. "Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future" (Proverbs 19:20). Remember, we are not just living haphazardly. There is an enemy that wants us to forget about wisdom. He wants to keep us in the dark so that he can manipulate us and keep us from our victory. Wisdom holds the key to life, but she expects to be pursued.

5. Lastly, Wisdom must be loved. Proverbs states that fools hate wisdom; basically, a fool is one who does everything opposite of what we have been discussing today: They don't understand it's a Spiritual component, they are intent on doing things their own way without any help, they are prideful and won't seek guidance from others and they ignore any advice or warnings that they may receive from those who love them. 

"Apply your heart to wisdom" and "Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you" (Proverbs 23:12/ 4:6). Believe it or not, loving and respecting God is the beginning of all wisdom. A fool says in his heart there is no God (Psalms 14:1). God is wisdom and God is love. When we love God, our natural reaction is to love His wisdom as well, understanding that seeking God means seeking wisdom. It is a simultaneous journey, but the first step is love.

When we live out these principals of wisdom, according to scripture and the leading of God's Spirit, we can most definitely avoid the messes that life so strategically places in our path. When we pursue God, we pursue wisdom, which comes from God and God alone. He is wisdom and therefore is the source to acquiring it. Intellect can be taught, but wisdom is a gift that comes from our Holy Lord. Proverbs 1:7 tells us that the fear of the Lord (to reverence and love God and to respect His commands) is the beginning of all wisdom.

I admit, sometimes, mistakes just happen. It's part of living. When we mess up, it's always smart to learn from these mistakes, but it's wise not to make them at all. In so doing, we save ourselves so much heartache, valuable time and our state of mind. Learn from your mistakes... don't repeat them. But at the same time, pray for wisdom and discernment so as not to even put yourself in the position to make any unnecessary messes. In this way, you reap multiple rewards and honor God at the same time! Wear wisdom like a crown and be prosperous in decisions in all manner of life. We must wantour choices to be lovely and free of stupid mistakes that bring regret and shame. I want my marriage to be lovely... so I must be wise in the way I operate as a wife. I want my friendships to be filled with honor, so I must choose my friends wisely. I want my finances to be secure, so I must use discernment when it comes to making purchases and investments. In life, we have so many options to choose, so many choices to make; life is hard enough without falling prey to poor decisions that will only result in clean ups on isle 12!

*Just for fun, I thought it would be encouraging to share with you wisdom that some of us Pearls have acquired throughout our lifetime and experiences. Below, a few of the girls share lessons that they have learned. I hope it blesses you!

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"Make up your mind to not live in excuses or reasons to quit. When things get difficult, use those challenges to shape your character. Running from hard times only prolongs your pain. Don't be afraid to live without compromise for Jesus, because this will eliminate any regret or uncertainty".

-Ariel

"My mom used to always say, "fear is the devil's favorite weapon but we should always use our weapon of faith".

-BB

"Keep God first in all that you do! His plans are always better than our plans and He knows which way we should go. Ask for His guidance. Also, cherish the time that you have with your children. Don't let things get in the way of those special moments because time doesn't slow down as they grow! Those are the moments they'll remember and love you for the most!"
-Shari M.

"The best lesson I ever learned from my mom is, 'watch other people so that you know what NOT to do'. I've avoided so many ridiculous mistakes and embarrassments by this simple piece of advice!"

-Katrina

"Make the necessary sacrifices early so that you can live the life you dreamed of later. Follow the Holy Spirit with your whole heart. Live in truth and trust! Enjoy your entire journey and look for positive lessons that are birthed out of your afflictions. Don't make excuses when you fall short of God's standards. Ask the Lord to change your heart."
-Brandi B.

Love Wisdom my Sisters!

~Pearls

Running Your Race

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

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

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

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

"Therefore, since through God's mercy 

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

"And as for you, brothers and sisters, 

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

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

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

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

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

~Pearls

Rich Girls!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Let the treasure of Truth shine in you!
~Pearls

God Misses You!

Relationships are so important aren't they? As humans, we sometimes tend to measure our existance by them. We are sisters, daughters, friends, co-workers, wives, girlfriends, best friends, cousins and aunts. We wear so many hats with so many different relationship labels on them, and each have their

special place in our lives; each require a certain measure of investment. In order to preserve or to create a relationship, it requires our time, attention and a portion of vulnerablility an openness on our part. We can't expect to maintain friendships if we never share personal thoughts or feelings. We can't 

claim to be close to our siblings and families if we never communicate with them or extend ourselves to them on a regular basis. Our boyfriends and spouses would not feel close to us if we never trusted them with our secrets and co-workers would retreat from us if we operated in distance on our 9-to-5's. Yes, Relationships require openness and availability. Think about the one person in your life that you simply cannot live without! Are they in your mind? Great...Now, think about how you might feel if

that one person never called you, never accepted an invitation from you, never extended an invitation to spend time with you, always had other plans, promised to hang out with you, then always cancelled or worse, came by to see you in a rush to leave. How would that make you feel? 

In our Christian lives, as unbelievable as it might seem, we tend to treat someone very special in that exact same way: We rush our visits and conversations; we make promises to spend time and then cancel; we ignore His calling or make excuses as to why now is not a good time and we even consider Him to be an option and not a priority. For those of us who are married, if our spouses treated us in such a way, or if our BFF did any of those things on a consistent basis, we would be irate!!! We would be so upset and hurt and let down... yet we often treat our Savior in this way throughout our day, our weeks and even throughout the course of our lives. We do not always give Him the quality time that He deserves. 

As Believers, it is our privilege to spend time with God- knowing that it is time spent with His spirit that makes a difference in our lives and moves upon our hearts to please the Father, through Jesus! Yet, our hectic lives and demand from this world can consume our every second of our time, if we let it. So then, what are we to do? Should we just accept the fact that we do not have time for God- the God who invented time for us? Should we make excuses and hope that He will understand? I think we all know the answer to that is, "no". Of course not! Our God is more precious than that and should take precedence in our lives, inspire of the schedules, the dates, the careers and the "me" time. He deserve our very best in each day that He offers to us because each and every day, He has blessed us with His best!

"My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him."
~Psalm 62:5

This scripture gives me peace in my soul and helps me to separate the truth from the demands of life. I want my continued desire to be for my God; not just His blessings, but also His presence in my life. Yes, God has given us a life to live, but He's also given us time to spend with Him. Each day, there are moments that we can set aside to share with our Lord, yet we do not always take advantage of them. We thank Him for our days, yet He might not receive an invitation from us to be apart of it. We ask Him for more things, yet His true desire is that we just want more of Him! He promises to never leave us or forsake us, but have we given Him that same promise in return?

Our God misses us! Let's remember to spend time with Him, every day. He's done so much for us already, what more could we ever need outside of His blessings of life and Jesus? This week, let's all commit to daily prayer and scripture meditation. Let's remember to thank the Lord for our job and not complain about it. Let's lift up a friend, instead of gossiping about them. Let's be joyful in giving, instead of grudgingly holding on. Let's tell our savior "Good Morning" each new day, and share His love with someone who needs the reminder!
Jobs are important, but our Lord is more so. Hanging out with friends is essential, but our Lord is more so. Planning our next move, our next vacation, our next party or our next date is dire, but giving our hearts and our time to God is even more so. Let's stop letting things get in the way of the most important relationship we could ever have. Lets open our hearts to anticipate spending time with our Savior who loves us so much! He is waiting for an invitation from us to become a regular part of our existence, not just our moment-by-moment or day-to-day.

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person (spend time), and they with me." -Revelation 3:20

Time is precious and cannot be replaced. I want to spend mine on pleasing Jesus, don't you? Let's take this challenge together! Let's live a life that shows the Lord how much we love Him and include Him, every step of the way!

~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

No More "gods"!

There comes a time in everyone's life where they must choose: What to major in, what job to take, what church to join, what man to marry, what "god" to follow...
In this life, there are so many choices, so many "gods". In Greek Mythology, there were 13 Olympians and 48 minor gods and goddesses, including 9 Muses and the 3 Fates. I took a course in ancient world cultures, as a sophomore in college, and I remember being completely fascinated and overwhelmed by all of the deities associated with the Greek and Roman Empires. Each was responsible for a certain element of happiness or human fulfillment. There was the "god" of love, the "god" of wealth, a "god" of power, a god of "crops" and even a "god" of fertility. Each promised to provide a certain aspect of happiness, yet it always came with a price. Their beauty and lure was undoubting, yet not one of them could ever compare to the majesty of our true and living God! His love supersedes that of any other identity. He expounds beyond the comprehension of man, because he was never made by man.
The Bible does an impeccable job of describing our most beautiful and glorious God:

For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and forever...
~Ps 100:5

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
~2 Corinthians 3:18

And in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
~Revelations 1: 13-16

How resplendent is our God?! His entire being is beautiful, because He is truth! His word is ablaze with fire from heaven and His love is all consuming- offering life and promise and hope to all who would only accept Him. His very being is grander than the cosmos and His Spirit is an unrestrained expression of His heart. Yet, inspite of this, we tend to be more drawn to the one-dimensional "gods" of our own creations.

Yes, believe it or not, polytheism is very much alive and well in our modern day, Westernized culture and we give our true worship away to the wrong entities. It may seem far fetched, but if you take the time to trace your own desires, there you will find your "god" at the root of it all. They are very much apart of our culture, although we've given them different names. They gloat among us, disguised as ambition, and in some cases...it's hard for us to tell the difference.
We worship self, as if we are immortal.
We worship money, foolishly putting our trust in what will inevitably run out. We worship the opposite gender, mistaking the trammels of sex as perennial love. We worship our homes, our cars and our clothes, and our beauty- forgetting that everything will one day rust and tear. We worship celebrities and their fading glamour, only to be let down by their humanity and inevitable failures, and we worship our intellect and degrees, to no avail, because they can never truly help us over come all the trials and lessons of life.

As we turn from one "god" to another, the overwhelming relentless love of the One and Only true and living God inundates us, calling us back to remember who He is and who He will always be! He has a calling and a purpose for each of us, yet we fail to hear His voice among all the tiny voices that we allow ourselves to be distracted by. Instead of seeking Him, we seek ourselves. Instead of glorying in Him, we often tend to trade His eternal state of grace, fulfillment and joy, for that of temporary, handmade happiness. I've recognized this in my own life at various points. To say the least, it is an embarrassment that none of us will ever fully overcome, until that day when Christ returns. Yet, in our weakness, He is made strong (2 Corinthians 12:9) and His mighty love continues to pursue us!

When we finally understand the magnitude of God's love for us, the other "gods" will loose their control, because we will begin to recognize that our fulfillment is found only in The Lord. Chasing after these "gods" is only our limited attempt to fulfill our own happiness. We think that success, relationships, self-preservation and other attempts will hold the power to erase our longing; but a spiritual void can never be fulfilled by carnal measures. If we are to experience the fulfilled life, we must seek after the fulfiller of all life! His ways are not our ways and so His plans for us go beyond our mere lusts for happiness; God wants to fulfill our lives with joy- a spiritual state of being, that no one and no happenstance could ever take away or replace.
Happiness is an emotion. It  evolves and devolves based on our current circumstances. When things go well, we are glad; but when things go wrong (beyond our control, plans or expectations) we loose hope and heart. Yet God's gift of everlasting joy, through Jesus, is not a gift that fades; it fulfills. It extends beyond our existence and further than our circumstances, and He is the only God that can ever provide this for us.

As we embark on a new week, it is my prayer to live more purposefully in the promise of eternal joy, which comes from our God who will never fade, fall or forget. He has made me an everlasting promise to love me, to set my feet on a successful path and to hold me up above my enemies and give me eternal life of which my spirit will never die... yet, all it takes is a seemingly disappointing moment in my day to take my eyes off of His face. When will we ever learn? What will it take for us to allow the truth of our salvation to be permanently implanted within our hearts? How long will we remain in a repetitive circle of chasing after our own created "gods" in order to generate a counterfeit happiness and fulfillment? The time has come for us to take revenue of our lives and make a choice concerning who we will follow and what we will pursue. Happiness has its place, then its gone.
I want God's joy, that can never be duplicated or lost. I want the fulfillment of His promises that were set in place before the first star ever flickered. I want a relationship with my Heavenly Father- who never goes back on His word and who never leaves me disappointed. I'm confident to believe that you want the same things as well. Nothing can hold us back... except for our man-made "gods". It's time to put them to rest! It's time to put our trust in Jesus!

Dear God,
I've made several attempts to fulfill myself with my own man-made "gods". I've tried to acquire happiness in my own way, despite it's temporary flair. But I realize that unconditional joy and true fulfillment only comes from you! I need you to fill me up with your fire, a renewed passion for your spirit and for  your word! I need your love, your glory and the beauty of your Son to take a permanent residence within my soul. I trust in you alone. There are no other gods... not any more. There is only you, and in your presence, I am made whole. Love of God, overflow and permeate on my soul. Amen.

No more "gods", girls.

~Pearls 

4 Ways to Know That It's From God!

As of late, the girls and I have been leveling in discussions centered around prayer. Yes, we pray together and individually... we've even covered the topic in a 7 week study last year. But regardless of your confidence, familiarity or consistent practice of prayer, it will always hold some element of mystery because it is one of the only purely spiritual concepts that God has given us access to. Prayer is not a topic one can study too much of. No one can master it, because it is not man made or man-willed. No one can explain it, because it is solely and directly operated by the Holy Spirit. Even the disciples were perplexed on the matter, asking Jesus, "how should we pray?" (Luke 11:1). These men spent time with Jesus, listened to his teachings and had direct access to ask of him any question they wished, yet still they struggled in the matter of prayer. The Bible also tells us that sometimes we do not know what to pray for, so in those cases, the Spirit will lead us and take over for us (Romans 8: 26-27) and we are told to ask of the Lord boldly (Hebrews 4:16) and in confidence in the name of Jesus (John 16:24).

But what happens when you pray for things and concerns, hopes and directions, and are actually given them and not sure what to do? What happens if what you pray for comes to pass but instead of peace, you wrestle with confusion? What happens if you are not ready or don't know which way to turn? This was a question posed by one of our Pearls just last week:
"I've prayed for so long to get accepted into school and for marriage. Now my boyfriend and I are seriously talking about getting married and I am almost done with my education. I feel overwhelmed. I know that I prayed for this, but now that it's here, I feel very unprepared".

How many times have we all had the feeling of being overwhelmed or unprepared? I know I have, constantly...even currently! We all have gone through areas of life's terrain with seemingly blind faith,  no discernment and no real confidence and even hints of confusion; each of which does not come from God. How many times do we ALL experience this- both in the negative and in the positive? I'm not saying that my friend (or any of us, for that matter) should dismiss opportunities because we feel unprepared or overwhelmed; many times that's where true and concentrated faith must step into place. But we need to examine everything to be sure that we are walking in God's will, before we endeavor in opportunities or what we might consider to be an answered prayer. Scripture tells us that God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33),  yet how many times have we found ourselves in what appears to be a very positive opportunity, only to teeter regarding weather to accept it or not? I mean, if it's a good thing, doesn't that automatically make it a blessing from God? If it is able to make me happy, shouldn't that be the choice I make? Shouldn't I follow my heart and do what I think is best for me? If I prayed about it and it happens, isn't that proof that it came from God?
These questions, and others like them, I'm sure, are all thoughts we've pondered at some point in our lives. To us, it makes sense, but is that what scripture says? Actually, no. Scripture teaches the exact opposite. Instead of looking inward, we must look outward. When we consider how to be sure that a seemingly answered prayer is God ordained, let's ponder 4 things: 1) Will this opportunity give glory to God? 2) Does this opportunity Benefit others or just myself? 3) Will this opportunity build my character and faith in the Lord? and 4) Is this opportunity uncompromising with scripture?

When we receive from God, it is God that should be getting the glory. Not ourselves. It is His will that should be our main concern, to please Him and not us. 1 Peter 4:2 tells us to live our lives for the will of God. It may seem unfair to us, but remember, as His ambassadors and as His lights in the world, our joy is to shine for Him! In this way, others will notice His goodness in our lives and seek Him for themselves. That is the whole point! The Lord has chosen you and I to show Himself off! WE are his trophies. But if we become our own trophies, seeking our own glory, then we are in error of idolatry and of robbing God. "But I'm not seeking my own glory", you might insist. Well great! Let's be sure that we know what glory really means. Webster states that glory is to "be in high regard, honor, noticed, to receive attention for one's actions; distinctive; to receive notoriety". Are there any opportunities we've seized in order to acquire any such things for ourselves? I'll be the first to confess, "yes". There have been opportunities that have come my way which I've responded to as, "wait till "they" see this" or "this will definitely make me stand out". Am I alone? Did I just completely expose the nature of my true intentions at times... yes, I did. To be honest, we all have...we're human. But when we are asking of God, it must be to give HIM ALL these things. Sometimes, a good opportunity could be just as distracting and dangerous as a bad one, if the results take away from God in an effort (known or unknown) to add attention to our selves.

If we can positively say, "I know that this opportunity will allow me to give glory back to God", then that is wonderful. But don't go racing towards that opportunity just yet; let's examine who it will help. Now, not to discourage  any of us, but we have to be so sure that our requests are with pure motives; meaning that they are not for selfish gain. James 4:3 calls it "asking amiss...for your own pleasures". When we ask, we ought not do so for our own personal benefit, only. Instead, we must be in search of how our prayers can allow us to be effective in God's kingdom. For example, I shouldn't run myself into debt and then ask God for a new job, knowing that I only want more money to acquire more things. Or, I should not see someone's new car and become jealous and ask the Lord to bless me in the same manner. It's immature to ask God for marriage so that I can sport a wedding ring and guilt-free sex and if my intentions for entrepreneurship are to collect my own riches without thought to those in need, well then I am praying amiss. Philippians 2:3 tells us to do nothing out of selfish ambition, but to value and consider others above ourselves. There is nothing wrong with going after things that will add to your life; but when your life becomes your main concern- when sharing, giving back, reaching out and extending assistance to others becomes a foreign concept in your attempts for opportunity, then that is a red flag and a warning that we are out of God's will. Regardless, however, if we are honest, we can look back and admit that there are moments when our intentions are self-centered, yet God allows us to have access to these opportunities any way. Is this because He is not concerned about our selfishness? Not at all. Many times, it is an opportunity to expose our true hearts to ourselves. He already knows what's inside of us. Often times, we are the ones who have no clue about the silent intentions that we privately cary (Jeremiah 17:9). If you find yourself being the only one who benefits from your opportunities and prayers, begin to ask God to show you how you can share your blessings and opportunities with others who may benefit more than you.

The third thing to considered when receiving opportunities or what might seem like an answer to prayer, is whether or not it will impact our growth and spiritual walk with Christ. In every area of our lives in Christ, we should be growing... not stabilizing, not maintaining and definitely not regressing. We should be moving forward in Christ, through our character and our faith. Every challenge, blessing and opportunity should contribute to growth in Christ. If we are not growing, then we are being hindered and hindrances in Christ never comes from God. We must operate with maturity in recognizing that not all hindrances come in the form of negative experiences. There are some seemingly good things that can hinder us in Christ! Examples of positive hindrances could include a new promotion at work that provides extra money, but requires us to sacrifice attending worship services or Bible study; a new boyfriend who distracts you from your involvement in Christ-centered things; even a simple TV show  or movie that demonstrates un-Christ-like behaviors as if it is permissible or cute. These examples and many more take away from our growth and if we are not growing, then we most definitely aren't pleasing God. He will never approve of anything that will take our attention off of Him and sabotage the good work He is desiring to complete in us! 1 Corinthians 14: 26 tells us to only do those things that will build up our faith and character. Examples of such include attending church and Bible studies regularly, connecting ourselves in Christ-focused friendships, studying scripture and encouraging others, reaching out to those in need, looking for ways to show love and simply just shining our lights. These build our faith. These do not take away from Christ or his plan in our lives. Any seemingly positive thing that might hinder faith and growth is something to be completely avoided, that is in fact if we have resolved in our hearts to live for Jesus.

The last to consider when taking or not taking advantage of opportunities that might come our way is whether or not it is supported by scripture. Now, here is where it can sometimes seem tricky. What if the Bible doesn't say anything about a new car or social media or college or in-laws or house hunting or job promotions? What if what you are going through is not mentioned in the Bible? Well, it may not be mentioned verbatim, but trust me... it IS in the Bible. The Bible is so practical and full of every solution you could ever possibly encounter. From relationships, to business arrangements, farming and agriculture, philosophy, anthropology, philanthropy, finances, sex... you name it, it's in there! But the key is to actually read it. You cannot say, "the Bible doesn't explain this or that", if you've never attempted to find it. It's unfair to say, "the Bible was written in olden days. It isn't modern. It can't help me". Well, even in the olden days, people lived, studied, worked, got married, made babies, started businesses, went to court, threw parties, had break ups, had arguments, got arrested, created fashion, made investments, buried loved ones and received promotions . There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Scripture is the one solid source for every human experience because it was written by the One who created humans in the first place. If you have a concern about what God wants you to do regarding an opportunity or a prayer request that you feel is being answered, go to His word! He will never tell you one thing in scripture and then contradict Himself in your life. His will is His word and His word is His will! It will not steer you wrong. What's amazing about our generation is that you don't even have to be a Bible scholar to investigate God's word or inquire of His will! You can use the good-ole internet... how convenient! If you're one who doesn't know the difference between Genesis and Revelations, use Bible search engines like Biblehub.net or Biblegateway.com. You can type in any topic and they will automatically provide you with multiple scriptures to help you navigate your choices! We are without excuse. Media makes it possible to be in God's word, even when a Bible is not near by. As you spend time in God's word, He will begin to illuminate Himself to you, giving you confidence and faith in Him. Scripture will always eliminate doubt and confusion. It is the one stop shop for any answers you could ever have. After reading God's word, close out in prayer- asking Him to help you apply it to your life. I promise, you will see a big change if you stay consistent.

In our walks with Jesus, we are constantly called to make decisions for Christ: to love him through obedience or to reject him through our efforts of self-gratification. I wish so desperately that there was middle ground, but scripture tells us that there is not (Matthew 6:24). In our prayer lives, we have to be sure that we are aligning our requests with God's word, to assure us that we are in His will and that our prayers are pleasing to Him. We may not always receive the "yes" that we hope for, but we are guaranteed an answer that we will not be confused by. If you are feeling overwhelmed by circumstances that you have prayed for, seek the Lord to determine if in fact it is His will or if it was just a timely opportunity that you accepted due to your personal agenda. There is no need to feel ashamed. We are human and we have the habit of eagerly swinging the door open when opportunity comes knocking. But just because it seems beneficial doesn't not mean that it is God's ordained purpose for your life. In everything, we must seek Him first, before we take a step to the right or to the left. If you struggle with confusion over a choice or what seems to be a blessing, be assured that our God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). Regardless of how appealing it may seem, consider if it is: 1) Glorifying God, 2)Beneficial to others and not just yourself, 3) a true opportunity to build your character and faith, and lastly 4) Uncompromising with scripture. If you cannot say yes to all 4 of these check points, then I suggest getting back on your knees and seeking the Lord. I promise, it is His joy to make His will clear to us! He will not steer you wrong and you will have a peace in your heart...without any confusion or doubts regarding answered prayer!


Seek the Lord in ALL things!
~Pearls

Our OFFICIAL VIDEO, Summer 2015

Good Morning Loves!

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

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

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

Shine bright, my loves!

~Pearls

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

Being Gomer

What's the first thing you think about when the term "Bible Story" comes to mind? Let's list a few associations: What about Sunday school? Fairy Tale? Moral lessons? God? These are common responses given when a poll was taken in 2009. But there are other associations wrapped up in the Bible as well... What about sex, scandals, lies, cheating or betrayal? Odds are, those weren't on your list!

I must admit that, when going through the Bible, particularly the Old Testament, some of the accounts documented do seem a bit far fetched from the surface. There are worlds created in 6 days, a storm that drowns the whole planet, talking donkeys, Giants, mysterious beings and bread that falls from the sky... Oh my! It certainly does take a leap of true faith to believe and trust in the validity of these accounts, but in between such outlandish records, there are also common stories about unsung heroes, victors and foes who are not very much unlike you or me. They lived, they died and in between, they teach us powerful lessons about life, God, love and the importance of faith. Today, I want to introduce you to a woman named Gomer. You can find her story in the book of Hosea.

How can I describe Gomer in one word? Well, ... She was ratchet. Period. She was a hoe; a "T.H.O.T." and a prostitute! She was a liar and a thief. She sought her self- worth and identity through sex...and lots of it! She would have been the girl on campus that everybody loved to gossip about. She would have been the girl who would party her problems away, only to continue to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. She lived in a trap of lust and lies, always seeking pleasure and thrills, but never finding true contentment. She tried so hard to change herself. She even entered a marriage with a strong Godly man. His name was Hosea and he loved her...flaws and all. He lived a life that honored God and for a while, it seemed as if her new life with him turned over a new leaf, but the shadows of her past only laid dormant for a little bit. Soon, our Cinderella could no longer ignore the familiarity of her personal ghosts and she soon returned to the sutt and cinders of her dark past- revisiting her old habits and loose lifestyle, despite her marriage and the man who loved her. But Hosea prayed. He loved his wife regardless.

In their marriage, Gomer bore 3 children, but none of the children were conceived with her husband. She would leave her family for weeks at a time, sleeping with this man, carousing with those men, selling herself at one brothel and then the next. She hoped for something better, with someone better and she bought into the lie that sex was her ticket to happiness. She exchanged true love for wild parties and temporary pleasures; for ravishing gifts and empty promises from men who only loved what they could gain from her. She assumed that the company of successful people would gain her the entitlement of the finer things in life that she so desperately craved. But after the wine bottles were empty and the perfume faded from her skin, the men she desired would leave her and she would return home for comfort and care- tired from her wicked ways, broken from yet another disappointment. And each time, it seemed as if she was determined to change...to be the wife and mother that Hosea hoped she would be. But eventually, Gomer would slip back into the night, lured by her selfish ambitions and appetite for more, leaving behind her children with a man who was not their father. Yet, Hosea kept praying.

Eventually, as all fast living does at some point, Gomer found herself in trouble. Not pregnant
trouble, not STD trouble; but true entrapment to the extent that she could not escape on her own. She wound up with the wrong men at the wrong place at the wrong time. She found herself overtaken by their greed and they kidnapped her with intensions of selling her for sexual exploitations. The life she played with had turned on her and captured her. Sex was no longer hers to control, now she was the one who would be controlled by it!
Her captures, waisting no time, produced a public  auction of rare finds and materials the very next morning, with Gomer being the highlighted prize. I wonder the fear she must have felt that day, as her completely naked body stood on a public platform for crowds to examine and gawk at. I wonder what type of words she must have over heard from neighbors in common places: "Serves her right", they might have whispered. "That's what she gets", some may have said.
I wonder if her soul began to quiver and shake, as one man after another reached out to touch her bare flesh, uninvited. I wonder how loudly her heart must have began to beat as people began to wager for her price. What must she have been worth? $300, $900, $1000? I wonder, in the rushing of voices and the clattering of jeers, did the thought of her family flash through her mind? What regret and shame and fear she must have been carrying on that day! Breasts exposed to the sun, hair mangled and messy, hands and feet restrained so that she had no power to defined herself. But what about her heart? How was it effected as she endured this humiliation in broad daylight, over and over again?

It's easy to be turned off from this story. We could dismiss it and claim that this is a very unlikely situation, especially in our modern world. But what about in the spiritual or emotional world? Have you ever found yourself to be humiliated, in one way or another, as a result of not heeding the warnings of those who love you? Have you ever felt in control of a sin, only to discover that it was really just controlling you all along? Have you ever made such a mistake that it went public and the nay-sayers gathered around to laugh and mock you and declare, "That's what she gets"? It's happened to me before, and odds are, it's happened to you as well. We walk around with the pain, anger and shame of our guilt, declaring "no regrets", but sobbing at night because the weight is just too heavy. We can hold our head high through gossiping crowds, while our hearts slump within us from embarrassment and shame. The truth is, we are all like Gomer in one way or another. We have all found ourselves in situations where our choices lead us to entrapment, with no rescuer in sight.

I'm sure, after a few hours of being on public display, even her captures began to get frustrated. "Who will purchase this woman?", they said. "She is lovely and experienced...a true woman of the world! She will keep your bed warm and satisfy your every desire!", they may have shouted to the crowd. "Take a look at her body! See how beautiful it is", as they cupped one of her exposed breasts and then the other... public humiliation! "Which of you men will invest in such a prize?"
I imagine, her eyes closed, as hope disapated. Hot tears began to swell as regrets huddled within her heart like storm clouds. Birds sang far off in the distance, and families quickly rushed by, avoiding the scene to protect the innocence of their children. Indecent men smiled at her and argued amongst themselves, making taunting jokes and inmannerable suggestions regarding what they wanted to do with her. She was hopeless, I'm sure. Her identity stripped away, her independence for sale, her virtue slaughtered and her future fading. She probably began to blame herself, accepting this punishment for her crimes and selfishness. She probably prayed that someone would just pay the price and collect her with his other possessions so that this public humiliation would stop. She probably wrung her fingers together, beneath her bounded wrists, reflecting on the choices she would have changed if she could.
The bidding had begun. Money was being suggested for her value and her price. "I am worthless", she probably thought, as men began to push and shove each other, arguing over the woman that would only be considered little more than a collector's item.
Voices escalated in the dry desert air and from the corner of her eye, I'm sure that she was confused by commotion in the crowd. She must have noticed the people parting, and wondered what was happening to make such a scene,  as a man pushed his way through the crowd and desperately shouted, "I will buy her! What is her price? However much it is,  I will buy her... I will buy her!!!"
"You want that filth?", someone from the crowd might have questioned the man, grabbing his arm to hold him back.
"Let go", he may have demanded from the person, snatching his arm away from their grasp and rushing towards the platform. "Please take all my money, sir", the man would have said to the seller, "I will pay whatever you ask".

I wonder how Gomer must have felt, with her head hung low as she saw scruffy hands exchange money for her purchase for property. And I wonder what must have went through her mind as she lifted her eyes, just high enough to take a curious glance at her new owner, only to discover that it was Hosea, her husband whom she had left over and over again. The tears she must have cried, as he removed the ropes from her hands and feet. The overwhelming love she must have struggled to accept as he took off his own garments to cover her nakedness.
"Why?", she must have whispered, too ashamed to look him in the eye.
"Because Gomer, I love you", would have been his response. "Now let's go home".

Scripture never reveals how this experience and demonstration of love changed Gomer. But I think it's safe to say that she was never the same. Hosea's love for her compelled him to assume her guilt as his own. He put himself in the way of public humiliation to buy back what was already his for a price that was worth more than the purchase. He didn't have to, but he did. He could have said, "Well, after everything she's done to me, I'm glad to be rid of her". But instead, his love for her saw past his hurts and into her healing. She was a woman with many stains, many masks and many sins. She was used, abused, and worthless to the world. But to one man, she was his world and he gave up everything to get her back.

Jesus has done the same for you and for me. We are His Gomers.

Something to think about.
~Pearls