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.
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.
I love books that tell of others’ triumph over adversity; please accept my entry. Thanks.
sounds like a wonderful book to read
There is nothing better to me than an inspiring book, where we learn how others can win over adversity!
Sounds like a great read, thanks for the chance!
This sounds like a great book and could be a great help to me!
This sounds marvelous!
Sounds GOOD ; Sounds like something i can read and pass to my mother and she can read it. I like that.
I want to surprise my wife.
This sounds like a great book to read and share. Thanks!
Sounds like a great read.
Sounds like a super interesting book! I would love to win it. Thanks for giving us the opportunity!
It’s such an incredible idea; that our pain and grit and mess can be transformed. I’d love to read this.
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!
Would love to be encouraged by this book.Titus2 🙂
Sounds like a great read!
sounds like a great read! thanks.
This sounds like a terrific read. 🙂
I would love to add this book to my collection
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I would love to win! Thanks
I would love a copy!
i feel like reading this book.
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
Sounds like an amazing book. I would love to win it.
sounds like a great book!
it sounds like a very encouraging read
I’ve been wanting to read this book!
I’ve been wanting to read this as one of my blogging friends has an entry in it. Thanks for the opportunity!
Thanks for reccomending this book. I am intrigued and will definitely read it!
Looks like a great book!!
Sounds like an awesome book. Would love to read it.
I would love to read this book!
I would love to receive one of these books. Thank you
It sounds wonderful!
I would enjoy reading this book and then passing it on …
sounds like a great read
shopannies@yahoo.com
It sounds like a wonderful book!
Sounds awesome. I’d love to read this book.
I’d really love to read this. Sounds very uplifting.
I would love to read this book and what better way to get a book than free!!