Introducing Post-a-Pearl.

A place to share God’s grace.

Perhaps you, too, have encountered unexpected grit - illness, disappointment, grief, marital strife, financial struggles, family issues or one of the many other challenges of life. Please know that you are not alone. God is by your side and can bring grace to any impossible situation.

I hope you will find comfort in one of my favorite Bible verses (New International Version).

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Wow! God is holding us up with his right hand while we travel the rough roads. Isn’t that comforting to know? Where there’s grit, there’s grace. God’s grace.

The purpose of Pearl Girls is two-fold: connecting and collaborating. As women, we are connected through our shared experiences. Together, we create an iridescent pearl necklace. With the demands and stress of everyday life, many women become secluded and disconnected from one another and from God.

Inspired by the many women who opened their lives and shared their stories in Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace, we have created Post-a-Pearl. A place to continue the connection and encouragement the book began. I hope you will take the opportunity to connect through this site. Please post your own Pearl story and reach out to share your own story with others. Collaborating is an important purpose of Pearl Girls. We connect to make a difference in the world.

Reach out. Tell a friend. Be encouraged.

Please share your story of grit and grace through Post-a-Pearl.

Dog “Tails”

When someone asks that catchy question; “Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?” I immediately know the answer. Pongo. My almost ten year old Chihuahua who thinks he is a human. Perhaps my dear mother-in-law help nurture that self perception when she served him oatmeal for breakfast each morning and indulged him with Danish meatballs for dinner during his formative years. He will bark without ceasing for a bite of a peanut butter sandwich, with jelly of course.

Over the years, our little “teacup” has blossomed into a coffeepot. Due to his unusual appetite, Pongo has undergone two major stomach surgeries: The first for digesting a Girl Scout badge with a string of beads and safety pin attached. The second for ingesting the sharp corner of Mr. Potato Head’s ear. Since then, he has also nibbled on the ginger bread house, chewed a whole bag of cherry cough drops, eaten half of a bottle of gummy bear children’s vitamins, and he of course devours anything chocolate. I think we are the most “frequent flyers” to the emergency pet clinic.

Today Pongo had his comprehensive senior citizen exam since he will turn ten in a few weeks. The doctor discovered a heart murmur. Pongo underwent an EKG, and we are awaiting results from the cardiologist. Please keep this little guy in your prayers. He truly has become a special part of the family. Pets encapsulate unconditional love. A tangible reminder of God’s love for us.

(Here I am with Karen Kingsbury on the floor of ICRS. Karen is one of the Pearl Girls endorsers!)

I’m sure Pongo would have loved the chocolate fountain at the Pearl Girls “Just Desserts” Tea in Denver during ICRS. What a lovely time to visit with dear friends and to officially launch the Pearl Girls book! Pictures coming soon! Thank you to the featured speakers, Robin Jones Gunn, Andrea Mullins, Karen O’Connor, Tony Collins and a representative from WINGS. A shout out to my niece, Elizabeth Rhea who led everyone in Amazing Grace.

Also, thank you to Janis Backing of Moody Publishers, who shared some valuable insights into promoting the Pearl Girls book. If you haven’t already, please post a review on amazon.com.

Janis announced that Pearl Girls has already gone into its second printing. Praise God! Let’s all continue to make this book a “blest seller.” It costs $12,000 to build one well for schoolchildren in Uganda. Already through the royalty advances, you have helped build a quarter of a well. It costs $50 a night to provide a safe night’s rest for a mother and her children in the WINGS Safe House. Already you have provided 60 nights of safety.

Thank you so very much to those of you who tithed their talent to write an essay for the book. And thank you so very much to those who are helping promote the book and are considering helping with the next Pearl Girls project. (details to be announced soon!) Together we can make a difference! Please contact Amy (amy@pearlgirls.info) with your ideas and willingness to help out. We would love to hear from you!

I was so excited that a few of the Pearl Girls contributors were able to attend the Tea they included Tricia Goyer, Robin Jones Gunn, Andrea Mullins, Sarah McManus, Kim Woodhouse, Jennifer Schuchman, Jami Kirkbride, Kathi Macias, Pat Ennis, Marcia Lathrop, and others.


God bless!

Margaret

Guest Blogger ... Dena Dyer

Be sure to check out Dena's wonderful blog, Mother Inferior and sign up for her FaithLifts!


Is the Proverbs 31 Woman For Real?

I tried to do so many things for God that I missed being with God. But I've learned—the hard way—life isn't about keeping it all together. It's about trusting the One who can. —Nicole Johnson

Do you ever feel intimidated by the Proverbs 31 woman—the one who sewed like Betsy Ross, volunteered like Mother Theresa, and ran her own business like Oprah? I know I have.

But I have a theory about that “perfect” biblical woman. As we know, Solomon wrote Proverbs, and Solomon had hundreds of wives. So, dear reader, I believe the Proverbs 31 woman was a composite. Solomon simply took the best qualities from several wives and created a word portrait of his “ideal” companion. (It works for me!)

Seriously, I've often felt discouraged while reading that famous biblical chapter. I can’t tell the difference between soufflé and flambé, and—to my mother's horror—I can’t even sew on a button. I've ruined laundry, sent "belated birthday" cards, and taken my kid to preschool in my pajamas more times than I can count.

For years, every time I read Proverbs 31, I felt as if this spiritual Superwoman was up in heaven, mocking my paltry attempts at being a wife, friend, mom and daughter. I didn't realize that the chapter was most likely an overview of the woman's entire life (and not one day, week, or even month)—or that, as my friend and fellow author Char Barnes says, "In Proverbs 31, the woman's children rise up and call her blessed. Toddlers don't rise up and bless their mother—this lady obviously had grown children."

After I began to experience panic attacks because of my perfectionism, I realized God was calling me to a different standard than the one I had erroneously set for myself. And through the wisdom of a godly counselor, I discovered that in the verse I had taken as my mantra—"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48, NIV)—the word "perfect" can also be translated as "mature."

Part of my becoming mature has meant learning that I have limits. We have just one life, and our Savior died and rose again so that it could be an abundant life. When Jesus said in John 10:10, "I have come that you might have life, and have it to the full," He wasn't talking about a day-planner jammed-packed with activities, or a schedule crammed with "to do's."

Christ was speaking about a life of purpose, contentment, and peace. As a busy wife and mom, I've come to believe that we can experience abundant life daily if we get off the hamster wheel of perfectionism, recognize our limits, and nestle close to Jesus.

When I remember that He loved me enough to leave the perfection of heaven and soil His feet with the crud of earth, I can see myself as He does. I can accept God's mercy, and impart that mercy to the imperfect people around me.

Then—and only then—can I live each day with joy and perfect peace.

Notes from the Coach:

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life . . . She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue . . . Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Proverbs 31: 10-11, 25-26, 30, NIV


Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.

Matthew 11:29-30, MSG

Excerpted from Grace for the Race: Meditations for Busy Moms, Copyright © 2004, by Dena J. Dyer. Used by permission.

Dena Dyer is a busy wife, mom, and entertainer and she is constantly losing things—but she’s holding onto her sanity (barely). Her favorite forms of therapy? Cuddling with her two sons, date nights with her hubby, reading, and blogging.

Dena is thankful for her creative life, which is varied and full. In between driving carpools, helping her boys with homework, and shuttling kids to soccer practice, she writes, speaks to women’s groups, and performs part-time at a Christian-owned professional music theater, Rockbox Theater.
Her husband, Carey, works alongside her as a principal cast member at Rockbox Theater. The couple met in a post-college singing group and dated “on the road” before marrying in 1995. “Carey’s my best friend and my biggest fan, and I’m so thankful God has given us each other. I couldn’t pursue my dreams without him,” Dena says. “He even cooks!” (Sorry, ladies—he’s taken.)

Her publishing credits include the books Grace for the Race: Meditations for Busy Moms and Mothers of the Bible (both with Barbour), compilations such as Chicken Soup for the Sister’s Soul Woman’s World and HomeLife, and tips for Working Mother, Family Circle and Parenting.

The books have arrived!

Please celebrate with us at the release of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace (Moody Publishers, July 2009). Join us in prayer that this book would be a "Blessed Seller" for the charities supported by the sales of this book.

Every Pearl Girl story holds a message of hope and grace. God isn't finished with us yet!

- Karen Kingsbury, bestselling author of the Above the Line series

Order your copy here ... one for you and one for a friend!

Perhaps you have heard the story of the oyster that unexpectedly gets a piece of sand stuck inside its shell. Nacre coats this irritant and creates a pearl. Like the oyster, we encounter unexpected grit in our everyday lives—illness, loss, disappointment, pain, changes . . . and the list goes on. However, God’s nacre of love and grace covers our pain and transforms us into precious pearls. Pearl Girl™.

You will read true stories from some amazing women who have unexpectedly encountered grit and experienced grace through the difficult times. You won’t want to miss one of these inspiring narratives! Perhaps you will recognize your own situation or know someone else who is facing similar circumstances. The prayer of Pearl Girls™ is that you will find comfort and assurance of God’s grace and love during life-changing moments and during the everyday challenges. You are not alone.

You are cordially invited to become a Pearl Girl. Please visit the Post-a-Pearl site. (Coming Soon!) Share your story of encountering grit and experiencing grace and read the many other stories that are posted.

Tell a friend. Get connected.

Please visit the About page to learn about the inspiration behind Pearl Girls™.

Thank you for taking the time to read about Pearl Girls™. Thank you to all the incredible women who have so graciously written essays for this first project and to all the bloggers who continue to guest blog here at the Pearl Girls blog.