Welcome to
the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series!
Merry Christmas
from Pearl Girls™! We hope you enjoy
these Christmas “Pearls of Wisdom” from the authors who were so kind to donate
their time and talents! If you miss a few posts, you’ll be able go back through
and read them on this blog throughout the next few days.
We’re giving
away a pearl necklace in celebration of the holidays, as well as some items (books,
a gift pack, music CDs) from the contributors! Enter
now on Facebook or at the Pearl Girls
blog. The winner will announced on January 2, 2013 at
the Pearl Girls blog.
If you are
unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit 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 Mother
of Pearl, Pearl
Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all
GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.
***
The ADVENTure
Awaits You!
By Charissa
Steyn
God loves keeping
us in a place of joyful expectation for what is next. He has mastered the art
of surprise. Much to my dismay, God rarely ever lays out steps 1-2-3
for me to see. Maybe you’re like me and you’re a planner. You need
time to prepare yourself for what is coming, the unknown grips you with fear,
and it’s hard for you to simply enjoy a surprise.
It’s difficult to
understand why God doesn’t like to reveal more of His mysterious ways, but I
have a feeling it has something to do with faith. I am quite sure that if I
knew everything that God had planned ahead of time my response would be, “No
way God!”
But maybe we need
to be a little more like Mary when it comes to faith. The angel reassured
her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you…” (Luke
1:30)
Did you get
that? You have
nothing to fear _________ (fill in the blank with your name) God has a surprise
for you!
God invited Mary
into the ultimate season of joyful expectation. He took her on the most
miraculous adventure of birthing His son!
Instead of
hesitation, Mary stepped forward, “Yes . . . let it be with me just as
you say.” (Luke 1:38)
Instead of
cowering in fear, Mary celebrated in faith, “I'm bursting with God-news; I'm
dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me, and look what
happened—I'm the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will
never be forgotten. . . .” {Luke 1:46-48)
As the Christmas
season is upon us, I can’t help but wonder what surprises God has wrapped up
for us under His tree of life? What gifts does He want to reveal to us this
year?
Like Mary, let’s
face the unknown, the mystery, the surprises of God with a quiet, yet confident
YES!
God wants to show
you the impossible can become possible, the supernatural can become
natural. We don’t need special qualifications, just joyful
expectation.
May you accept
the invitation of Jesus in this truly ADVENTurous season and embrace all the
marvelous, mysterious surprises He has for you along the way!
***
Charissa
Steyn is a God-adventurer. She believes everyday holds exciting undertakings
that usually involve risk, but always draw us closer to the Father’s heart.
Originally from Seattle, she now lives in Cape Town with her South African
hubby, Michal and their son David. Together they are doing their best to lead a
simple, yet dangerous life of love. Learn more about Charissa at her blog.
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