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5 Minutes for Books: Pearl Girls

September 14, 2009 by Guest Contributor

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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Oftentimes, I’m guilty of wrongfully judging someone else’s life. When I read books by such renown Christian authors as Shaunti Feldhahn, Melody Carlson, Kristin Billerbeck or Tricia Goyer, I think She must have it all. What a blessed life she’s lived.

And then I read Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace, compiled by Margaret McSweeney.

McSweeney has compiled short essays from dozens of Christian women. Many are authors. All have seen God take the grit of their lives – the hard stuff, the sin, the doubt – and cover it over and over with His love and grace until it became a pearl.

Feldhahn and her husband were Harvard graduates with high power careers until the technology crash forced them into a five-year period of poverty. Carlson’s oldest son is a schizophrenic, and her youngest son fell into alcohol and drug addiction. Billerbeck has a mentally challenged brother. Goyer was an unwed teenage mother who had an abortion at age 15 and a child at age 17.

Each of these women, and the many others I haven’t listed, found themselves in dire circumstances. Situations they never imagined, and certainly couldn’t control. Each found God waiting for them in the midst of the hardship. In time, the grit became a priceless pearl that God produced to His glory.

I found these stories to be inspiring and encouraging reminders that God can take even the dirtiest and toughest thing in our lives and make something beautiful from it if we allow Him.

Pearl Girls also has a website for readers to become involved by posting their own stories. For more information, click here.


POST-A-PEARL

If you’d like to win one of FOUR copies of Pearl Girls (U.S. residents only), leave a comment here. We’ll announce the winners in next week’s column.

** The Giveaway is Closed **

Melissa has been captivated by books for as long as she can remember. She resides in Virginia and blogs at Breath of Life.

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Reader Interactions


40 Comments

  1. pixie13 says

    September 19, 2009 at 12:21 am

    I love books that tell of others’ triumph over adversity; please accept my entry. Thanks.

  2. vicki wurgler says

    September 18, 2009 at 8:36 pm

    sounds like a wonderful book to read

  3. Annmarie W. says

    September 18, 2009 at 6:39 am

    There is nothing better to me than an inspiring book, where we learn how others can win over adversity!

  4. Angela Winesburg says

    September 17, 2009 at 1:14 pm

    Sounds like a great read, thanks for the chance!

  5. Angie says

    September 16, 2009 at 11:00 pm

    This sounds like a great book and could be a great help to me!

  6. Mama Zen says

    September 16, 2009 at 10:16 am

    This sounds marvelous!

  7. Alicia hill says

    September 16, 2009 at 2:05 am

    Sounds GOOD ; Sounds like something i can read and pass to my mother and she can read it. I like that.

  8. Pat Connors says

    September 15, 2009 at 7:45 pm

    I want to surprise my wife.

  9. LaVonne says

    September 15, 2009 at 3:06 pm

    This sounds like a great book to read and share. Thanks!

  10. Michelle says

    September 15, 2009 at 12:13 pm

    Sounds like a great read.

  11. Val Pearson says

    September 15, 2009 at 9:25 am

    Sounds like a super interesting book! I would love to win it. Thanks for giving us the opportunity!

  12. edj says

    September 15, 2009 at 9:09 am

    It’s such an incredible idea; that our pain and grit and mess can be transformed. I’d love to read this.

  13. Mommy Magee says

    September 14, 2009 at 11:05 pm

    This sounds like a neat book! God is so good to use what was meant for bad and turn it into glory for Him. Awesome!

  14. Summur Braley says

    September 14, 2009 at 10:52 pm

    Would love to be encouraged by this book.Titus2 🙂

  15. Brenda Rupp says

    September 14, 2009 at 10:16 pm

    Sounds like a great read!

  16. Alissa says

    September 14, 2009 at 9:16 pm

    sounds like a great read! thanks.

  17. Shirley says

    September 14, 2009 at 7:19 pm

    This sounds like a terrific read. 🙂

  18. Linda Kish says

    September 14, 2009 at 6:58 pm

    I would love to add this book to my collection

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  19. Chelsea says

    September 14, 2009 at 6:36 pm

    I would love to win! Thanks

  20. Jinii says

    September 14, 2009 at 5:38 pm

    I would love a copy!

  21. adams says

    September 14, 2009 at 4:53 pm

    i feel like reading this book.

  22. Penny says

    September 14, 2009 at 3:52 pm

    Sounds like a great book. I think all of us at one time or another go through hard times, even those who semingly have it all together…My first hardest time when I married was having my first baby be a SIDS baby. PTL I now have 3 beautiful healthy daughters.
    Please enter my name in the contest.TKS
    Penny

  23. Hailey says

    September 14, 2009 at 1:49 pm

    Sounds like an amazing book. I would love to win it.

  24. Carrie says

    September 14, 2009 at 12:29 pm

    sounds like a great book!

  25. Elli says

    September 14, 2009 at 12:27 pm

    it sounds like a very encouraging read

  26. Erin Lowmaster says

    September 14, 2009 at 11:53 am

    I’ve been wanting to read this book!

  27. Barbara H. says

    September 14, 2009 at 11:18 am

    I’ve been wanting to read this as one of my blogging friends has an entry in it. Thanks for the opportunity!

  28. Corn says

    September 14, 2009 at 11:06 am

    Thanks for reccomending this book. I am intrigued and will definitely read it!

  29. Whimzie says

    September 14, 2009 at 10:36 am

    Looks like a great book!!

  30. Thena says

    September 14, 2009 at 10:13 am

    Sounds like an awesome book. Would love to read it.

  31. Amy says

    September 14, 2009 at 9:38 am

    I would love to read this book!

  32. Shonni says

    September 14, 2009 at 9:15 am

    I would love to receive one of these books. Thank you

  33. Elizabeth says

    September 14, 2009 at 8:59 am

    It sounds wonderful!

  34. Sandra says

    September 14, 2009 at 8:52 am

    I would enjoy reading this book and then passing it on …

  35. angie says

    September 14, 2009 at 8:48 am

    sounds like a great read
    [email protected]

  36. Nikki says

    September 14, 2009 at 5:59 am

    It sounds like a wonderful book!

  37. Rhonda Brand says

    September 14, 2009 at 4:45 am

    Sounds awesome. I’d love to read this book.

  38. Ashley says

    September 14, 2009 at 1:44 am

    I’d really love to read this. Sounds very uplifting.

  39. Heidi Clark says

    September 14, 2009 at 12:10 am

    I would love to read this book and what better way to get a book than free!!

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