the pearl of great price

I told myself I wasn't going to ask readers to donate to anything for a loooong time- give everyone a break from fundraising for orphans for awhile, and just post photos and letters to Lily.


And then last night as I was watching the video on ABC news about Kareen and thinking about how so much has happened from last year to this...it just hit me how one little series of events led to her rescue. And how Brent and Kareen were facing the same future last year- and somehow their paths diverged...and now Kareen is living out a dream come true, while Brent is living out a nightmare. It just broke my heart.

So I wrote this post last night, and cried as I wrote it, and begged God for a way to help Brent.

And when I woke up and checked my email from my phone in bed...because I love to do that just so I can see if Michelle Z at Reece's Rainbow is sending any love my way, i.e. Artem has a family (one of the happiest days of my life!) or Robyn has a family (still waiting on that!) ...anyhoo, there was a lovely little email- make that TWO emails - from friends offering an incredible prize for a giveaway for Brent...

Does anyone remember me blogging about this fabulous online shop a few weeks ago?? It's called The Vintage Pearl, and I have to repent of lust every time I visit there. And in that post a few weeks ago I hinted rather obnoxiously to my husband that all I wanted for Christmas was this...

And guess what? Sweet guy was paying attention. Because the very first little package that fell out of my stocking on Christmas morning was a custom made mother of pearl necklace exactly like the one above, only engraved with ten initials...JC, JC, ME, TK, JS, CB, AJ, NS, JP, and LA... all of my children.

And yes, I cried.



After I got done screaming.



There's a reason I married that guy;)


SOOO, those wonderful little emails this morning were from two mamas wanting to help write a different story for Brent.  And guess what they offered??

 $100 Gift Certificate to The Vintage Pearl.

Who says Christmas is over???

And speaking of pearls....



Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
— Matthew 13:45-46

Jesus told that parable to describe what the kingdom of Heaven was like...something worth more than anything, something we should give everything we have for.

He spoke another time about what the kingdom of Heaven was like...

But Jesus said, allow little children and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14

Did you catch that? His kingdom belongs to little children. The innocent, the humble, the ones who trust simply. And if I were going to sell all I had and give it to that pearl of great price, just like the man in that scripture...

I would give my gain to purchase this pearl.

Because Brent is that pearl.

He is one little boy, waiting across the ocean for someone to rescue him, he is alone and most likely frightened, and without us he has no hope.

We're trading pearls for pearls today here on A Perfect Lily.

Donate $10 or more to Brent's grant fund on Reece's Rainbow and be entered to win a $100 Gift Certificate to the Vintage Pearl. Blog about the giveaway- and blog from your heart! - and receive another chance to win. Facebook the giveaway and receive another chance to win.

And just because I love her so much, AFTER you donate to Brent, go donate on Jane's blog to Bobby, and receive a fourth chance to win. (And all Jane is asking for Bobby is ONE DOLLAR.) There is a fantastic and amazing story Jane and I have to share in the months ahead...one we're not at liberty to share yet... but when we do, you will be doing backflips like we were tonight. Okay, maybe not backflips, but definitely cartwheels. Jane on one continent, and me on another. Simultaneously and screaming at the same time. Just another God-woven story to tell, but you'll have to wait to hear it for a month or two! ;)


Update!  another prize has been added in, IF you give $1 to Bobby on Jane's blog after giving to Brent first- go HERE to see the beautiful art work Jane is offering, valued at $250! Leave a comment on Jane's blog saying you donated to both Brent and Bobby to be entered to win.


UPDATE!!! A new prize has been donated....

Kindle Keyboard 3G, Free 3G + Wi-Fi

 valued at $139 on Amazon

How awesome is that?? (Thank you, Holly, for your heart for orphans!!)

Meanwhile....

Please spread the word that Brent needs a family!

Leave a separate comment for each thing you do: donate to Brent, blog, facebook and donate to Bobby ...a winner will be drawn on Friday, January 6th and announced on Saturday, January 7th.



And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me. Matthew 25:40