Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas!
Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom" from some
of today's most beloved writer's (Tricia Goyer, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Shellie
Rushing Tomlinson, Sibella Giorello and more)! Please follow the series through
Christmas day as each contributor shares heartfelt stories of how God has
touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year.
AND just for fun ... there's also a giveaway! Fill out this
simple {form} and enter for a chance to win a beautiful pearl necklace and
earring set ($450 value). Contest runs 12/14 - 12/25 and the winner will on
1/1. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents. You may enter once per
day.
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www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support
the work of charities that help women and children in the US
and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering
Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!)
to help support Pearl Girls.
***
Where is Comfort and Joy Found?
By Sandy Ralya
The year 2006 ushered unwelcome emotions into my life. My
husband was unhappy in his job, two of my grown children were making poor
choices, my mother-in-law was showing signs of Alzheimer’s, extended-family
issues were surfacing, and I was writing a book. Things only got worse. Much
worse.
Early in 2007, I was asked to represent the mentoring
ministry for wives I founded, Beautiful Womanhood, and lead a women’s
conference in Uganda,
Africa. My husband wasn’t sure if traveling to Africa
was a good idea, so we committed it to prayer. While we were listening for an
answer, I sensed God asking me to fast from spending, except for groceries, for
thirty days.
Sometimes you know that you’ve heard God’s voice because
you’d never have come up with those words on your own. This was one of those
times. I’d never heard of a fast from spending. Tom needed no convincing that a
fast from spending came directly from the mouth of God. He still gets excited
just thinking about it!
During the fast, it became clear I had used spending as a
way to gain a comfort fix. When I was spending money, I felt carefree and
lighthearted. Instead of dwelling on the unpleasantness in my life, I was thinking of
my purchases and how they would bring me pleasure. Not until I stopped spending
did I realize how short-lived the fix really was. During the fast, when I felt
the urge to spend—to anesthetize my pain—I pictured myself running into the
arms of Jesus, the Great Comforter. Oh, what comfort I received!
One night, I told good friends my experience of gaining
comfort through the power of the Holy Spirit rather than money. I exclaimed
that I had never felt so comforted. One friend then told us about a dream he’d
had shortly after hearing about the invitation from Uganda.
After the dream, he had awoken and recorded the following thoughts:
“. . . this is for Sandy.
Christ’s redemption of women is beautiful. Beautiful Womanhood is a result of
redemptive wholeness. The visuals the ministry uses on the books, etc., are
like a piece of beautifully veneered furniture. There is something going on
with the ministry to the brokenness of abused women. In Uganda,
there are hurting, abused women, and something is connecting their need and
Beautiful Womanhood. Though there is nothing wrong with veneer, it is only the
topping—the covering, and without good structure it is shallow and will not
hold up. It is time to add a new depth to the ministry.”
Then these verses came to my friend’s mind:
All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in
all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we
will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure
that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his
comfort through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NL
When my friend was finished sharing, everyone in the room
broke down in tears, praising God for His work in my life. I’d learned to
listen and God had spoken. I’d obeyed, and He’d acted. When He acted, I was
changed.
Needless to say, I packed my bags and experienced some of
the best days of my life in Uganda—offering
God’s comfort to His troubled women.
***
Sandy and her husband Tom have been married since 1980 and
live near Grand Rapids, Michigan.
They have three adult children and a growing number of grandchildren. When not
writing and speaking, Sandy enjoys shopping at yard sales for vintage clothing,
cooking, traveling, and drinking really good coffee (black is best) with her
husband. For more information, contact Sandy
at sandy@beautifulwomanhood.com. Subscribe to Sandy’s
blog at www.beautifulwomanhood.com/blog. Find Sandy
on Facebook at Beautiful Womanhood. Follow Sandy
on Twitter @MentoringWives.
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