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Welcome to
the 12 Pearls of
Christmas!
Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom" from some
of today's most beloved writer's (Tricia Goyer, Babbie 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.
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, travelling, 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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