Pearls of Hope: A Glimpse at our Tuesday Meetings

Happy Sunday, everyone! As you are preparing for your day, please take some time to check out our latest youtube video! As you watch, you will get a sneak peak of what goes on every Tuesday evening in our Bible Studies! We are extremely excited to share with you our journey with Jesus and we pray that we will be an encouragement to you as you travel through your own path with the Lord!

If you have any questions or topics that you would like us to address, please feel free to add any comments or suggestions! We are here to support you and each other! Remember, Jesus has HUGE plans for you! You are not alone and we love you!

~Pearls

Is Christianity Still Relevant?

abc.go.com

Last Thursday, a crowd of comments swarmed Facebook regarding the topic of religion vs spirituality after a post was uploaded featuring women co-hosts on ABC's The View. In the video clip, the stars discussed on the morning talk show their personal opinions, acceptance and reactions of modern day religion and the path to God. Raven Symone, America's sweet heart and child star from the Cosby Show and Disney's That's So Raven show, made some rather interesting remarks in regards to her personal beliefs and opinions on the matter:

"Every religion has it's time and place and then we start evolving [as a human race]...I have a personal rejection to religion itself, but spirituality is through everybody, no matter what God you praise to."

abc.go.com

She also states on the show that she was focusing her lifestyle on New Age montras, light and energy. Her words were said with such confidence and the crowd gave a roaring applause, but I wonder, within the inner being of her own heart, is Raven, along with the others in our world, truly satisfied with the condition of their souls? Or are they, like many, on the search to find fulfillment within their own means? And if so, is the debate to convince themselves or those around them?

Scripture tells us to be careful of false teachings or of words that lure us into self-gratification..."tickling ears" is what the Bible calls it:

"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."
~2 Timothy 4:3

There is no doubt that we are in such an era, where people willingly reject what is true and sound in exchange for what is comfortable and for what allows them to maintain a certain lifestyle without responsibility for God's word. Everyone feels they have their own personal path to God, yet scripture is very clear that there is only one way to the Father, and that is through Jesus, His son!

"And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life and this life is through His Son. Whoever has the Son has eternal life, whoever does not have the Son does not have life" ~1 John 5: 11-12

The next day after this video was posted on Facebook, the girls from Pearls of Hope had a very riveting discussion on the matter. Here are some of the comments they shared:

"I understand there may be people in the world who profess Christ but they are not setting the best examples and it's unfortunate, but people have been rejecting him since he came into the world. That's a choice. You are choosing not to believe, don't blame the next person and use them as the representative for the entire body. Try him for yourself." - Brittany

"It bothers me that all of those ladies seemed to try to make excuses for the world and themselves and blame it on religion for the reasons they're conforming to this "new age"...(people) think they are saved because they believe in God or his existence but then choose to live their own way because they don't know what's required of them because they're not seeking God and his kingdom and staying glued to his word!" -Amanda

"Although people like her make me sad, I feel like they just need the right experience to change their whole perspective. There is still hope for her and those with that mentality as long as they are breathing. We really have to pray hard for them."- Ariel

In a nut shell, no matter who you are or what you've heard or what you've read, God's word must be the source of our lives and the means by which we make our decisions, because He is God. If He says it, we know it is truth, because God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19). Yet, our society defies the very nature of God by rejecting His word and clinging on to their own intellect, opinions and views. And worse, they demand that we, those who belong to God and are called of Christ, to assimilate ourselves with their perspective and their views, expecting us to quietly "respect" their life choices, while they openly reject ours. It is a difficult condition that the Christian has found themselves in: to boldly proclaim Christ to a world who has rejected him, or silently disagree in our hearts for fear of being rejected ourselves. Yet scripture tells us that they will reject us- well... not really us, but the Spirit of Christ who lives in us (Matthew 10:22). 

If we are to be effective Christians, we must not align ourselves with the world in regards to things that are contrary to the Bible. In love, we must allow the courage of the Holy Spirit to raise up within us and declare, "No. This is not right. There is only one way and there is only one path, and this is through Jesus!"

The women on The View, regardless of their personal opinions, each have a soul that is precious to God. But I wonder how many of them truly understand the Gospel message? How many of them, in their own power and in their own attempt at goodness, are trying to pave their own path, despite the fact that God has already paved one for them and for us all? The issue isn't Spirituality vs. Religion...even the Devil and his demonds are spiritual! Religion is man's own attempt at righteousness, which we know is disgusting to God (Isaiah 64:6). So the question then isn't spirituality or religion...The real question is, Do you want a relationship with God or not? If you do, it's only possible through Jesus! All other attempts, forms, beliefs or traditions will not make the cut. It's only through him that we are reconciled to God. This is the way of God. Any other route leads away from Him, away from His light and away from His kingdom.

Here are more scriptures on the matter:

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

1 Corinthians 2:14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 4:8 So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

Romans 1:20 For God's invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has eternal life; whoever does not have the Son does not have life!

We invite you to watch the clip and to share your thoughts, comments and questions with us! We'd be happy to pray with you or explain God's plan of salvation with even more detail with you! Please know that, no matter where you are in life, you will never go too far that God can't reach out and bring you to Himself!

Our prayers go up for you and for all those who are still searching!

~Pearls

We are BACK in session!!!

Last night was an amazing beginning to our first new Bible Study of 2015: Children of the Day, by Beth Moore. I cannot begin to tell you all how excited I was to reconnect with my old Pearls and welcome in new visitors and guests! For the past 2 months, we took a break from our weekly meetings to enjoy the holidays with our families and to just rest in knowing that God's grace is sufficient. During our time away, we did not eliminate meeting all together, as you well know! We enjoyed Birthday parties, movies, carnivals, random nights of nothing at each other's homes, snow tubbing and church serving. It was a much needed break, but I'm so glad to say that we are back in session!

As the days continued to roll over and as we drew nearer to the night of this new study, many of our girls expressed the interest of other girls who had visited our blog, our Facebook page and our instagram page. They felt as if they wanted to be a part of what we are striving to do- which is to simply create a community of women who have the desire to grow in Christ, provide encouragement and accountability through Christian friendships and to be used by God to serve others around us. It was my most greatest joy to not welcome one new guest...not two new guests... but 7 new guests, with 2 more who are planning to attend next week!!!! Let me tell you, a living room full of 15 girls is a very exciting sight to see!!!! We had to move tables and pull in chairs, with no room to spare! It was incredible and wonderful and every other good word that you could ever think of!

The house was full of joy! There was so much laughter and jokes, flashes from camera's and plates full of food! We talked, we read scripture, we prayed and we hugged. Last night couldn't have gone any better and I am so thankful to the Lord, because our growth is the evidence of His Spirit at work through us.
As I looked around at all the old and new faces, I realized that being a Christian is truly a state of living and experiencing. We are called to reach out, connect, encourage and to love; not just quote scripture or maintain traditions. The life of a Believer is the most beautiful existence, because we are moving and thriving and producing that which is eternal.

Last night, we learned from the first session that God wants to do a "Remix" in our lives and in our hearts. He isn't interested in us just re-doing and re-playing the same conversations and the same events over and over again. He wants to be alive in us! He wants to use us to reach others and to love without limits, share His truth with confidence and engage others in the knowledge and hope of Jesus Christ! God wants to bring in new people, new events, new challenges and new victories, but we must have a willingness to follow Him where ever He may lead us. I pray that we all are willing to arise to that calling:

"Lord, have your way in me"!

I'm so honored and so thankful to be a part of such a loving and dynamic group of women! We are all different- coming from different backgrounds, different careers, different forms of education and different places in our walk with Jesus. But one thing we have in common- the only thing that truly matters- is that our hearts are joined together in anticipation for God's promises and with an expectation to receive more of Him in our lives! I am amazed at my God and I look forward to the weeks ahead, learning, serving and loving with these beautiful sisters in Christ!

Let's get started on the next path of our journey!

~Pearls

Pictures Are Worth A MILLION Words!

It's been quite a journey, and who can imagine what more God has in store for us???

When we first began our Bible Study, we had no idea of what the results would be, or how the Lord would work in us, through us and use us. This process has been an incredible journey, but could not have been a success without the women who made this possible. Throughout the course of our meeting together, we have grown in grace, in love with Jesus and in our friendships with each other! We are so thankful for the journey that the Lord has lead us on, and I know I speak for everyone when I say, I couldn't have counted on as much spiritual growth with out the help, love and support of my sisters!

Pearls of Hope is a blessing to me, and I cannot wait to see how God continues to unfold his plan for us in the lives of others, for His glory!!!

Thank you Marissa Joy Kaplan for your amazing artistic eye and creativity in shooting these images for us!

marissajoyphotography.com