“This is Me”

By Tracy Smith

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.”

Psalm 139:13-14 (NLT)

I recently saw the musical The Greatest Showman. While I understand that the movie was highly fictionalized, I enjoyed the idea of a person giving the marginalized in the world a place to belong.

After I saw the movie, I was talking to my youngest son (who had only heard the soundtrack) about our favorite songs. We each had a different favorite - - until he saw the movie. There is something powerful in seeing music paired with a story, and that power changed his favorite song to the same as mine: “This Is Me.”

In the movie, Barnum gives the hidden, marginalized people in the world… a place to shine. A place to feel that they are important. That they matter. That they contribute to the world. But then, Barnum temporarily loses his way and publicly rejects those he had previously accepted. It is at this moment that the Bearded Lady sings:

“I am not a stranger to the dark
Hide away, they say
'Cause we don't want your broken parts
I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars…
No one'll love you as you are

But I won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us
For we are glorious…
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me…
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me” [emphasis mine, 1]

What the movie is missing though is why we are glorious. We are glorious because that is who God made us to be. [2] We are the work of His hands, and each one of us is given unique talents and strengths to be used in order to further His Kingdom. [3]

Beyond what this means for us personally, this should also change how we treat others. Recently, our pastor did a sermon on Genesis 1:27. He explained that we are all created in God’s image…ALL. One of the points in his sermon was, “Every person is to be treated with dignity and respect.” [4]

I think this idea resonated with me while I watched this movie. We are ALL glorious because God made each of us that way. And because of that, we should treat everyone with dignity and respect.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  When interacting with someone different than yourself, what can you do to remember to treat him or her with respect?

FURTHER READING:

1 Peter 2:17; Romans 12:9-11

[1]  https://www.lyricsondemand.com/soundtracks/g/greatestshowmanlyrics/thisismelyrics.html

[2] Psalm 139:13-14

[3] 1 Corinthians 12

[4] http://oakwoodnow.org/sermon/hope----in-the-midst-of-turmoil/

Along with being a wife and mother to two teenage sons, Tracy is a ministry assistant at Oakwood and works with a great group of Junior High girls.

Repentance

By Peggy Kleckner

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.

Three very short sentences. Three sentences that most of us have heard more than once in our lifetime, but do you believe all three?

We live in an age thousands of years removed from Christ’s death. We weren’t there but we have read the written testimony. We can do extensive research, but ultimately, we have to come to believe what we have read. The same is true of the resurrection of Christ.

We get to the place in our Christian walk when the questions should not be who do others say He is, but who do we - - ourselves - - believe that He is.

God wants us with Him, so much so that He sent His Son to pay our penalty and to guide us home. However, He does call each of us to repentance. We cannot skip knowing and acknowledging the price it took to pay for our sin. Too often we want to skip over the ugliness of our sin and what it took to remove it:  the death of Jesus, the death of the innocent, the death of God’s one and only Son.

Sin is no laughing matter, we cannot just say “oh, sorry” and sit down to eat with the Creator of the universe. He is God most high and we should bow down in reverence to who He is and what He has done out of His pure and amazing love for us. We didn’t deserve what He has done and we also cannot earn it. But, most certainly, it should cause us to sit in grief for a season. We should grieve over our sins, the places where we wanted to go our own way and do our own thing. We should also grieve over Jesus, experience that pain of the cross so that our hearts can know the expansive love it took to send Him. Love is just, but it is also compassionate. It is not one or the other. Christ is the visual of perfect love…God Himself.

Finally, after the grieving comes the joy of resurrection…relationship restored. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him. Then let us, after enjoying restored relationship with Him and His great love, tell others that indeed Christ will come again...one heart at a time.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Do you know the deep anguish of repentance, as well as the joy of salvation?
2. Are you resting in His great love for you?

FURTHER READING:

Job 42:5-6; Ezekiel 18:32; John 3:16

Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children - - two sons and two stepsons, and is an active encourager at Oakwood Church in Delafield.

The Vine
By Lisa Boyer

“…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…”
Hebrews 12:1b (NIV)

When we purchased our “house in the country,” the neighbor was kind enough to let me know about some of the trees and plants that grew on the property line. She made a point of showing me a vine and warned me that it spreads easily and is quite destructive. Being as I don’t have a green thumb, I wasn’t overly concerned and I let the vine run wild. I noticed that it was creeping down the property line towards the road, but I didn’t care, since there was no danger to the mature trees on the lot line.

Five years later, I found myself out there with gigantic clippers trying to get the vine under control. This was not an easy task. As the vine travels along the ground, it entrenches itself by dropping roots along the way. As it travels above ground, it wraps itself tightly around tree branches and bushes. I tracked down every piece of the vine, tugging and pulling it out of trees and bushes and ripping it out of the ground. The job seemed hopeless, but I wasn’t giving up. I was determined to stop the vine.

So, why the sudden interest in a vine I had been warned about and ignored for five years? The vine had reached something that I loved: the beautiful lilac bush at the front of my property. I managed to rescue the lilac bush, but the vine has taken hold in the area and I cannot get rid of it.

That vine reminds me of how surrounded we are by sin in this world. Left unchecked, sin creeps closer and closer until it gets into our very lives, entrenching itself and entangling us. We must be ever-diligent and proactive about protecting ourselves and our families. Regular “yard” checks to see if sin is creeping into our lives by radio, television, relationships, movies, books, magazines, computer and more, are in order.

When we bought our home, the vine was 250 feet from that lilac bush. Today, the vine is less than 10 feet from the lilac bush. The lilac’s only hope for survival is my diligence in cutting back the vine. Oh, how I regret letting the vine get that close. I won’t do the same with sin.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Will you ask God to give you wisdom as to how you can best protect yourself and your family from the influences of the sin of this world?
2. If you’ve become entangled in sin, will you turn to the Savior and ask Him to set you free?

FURTHER READING:
John 8:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

Lisa is married to Ted and they have two sons in college. Lisa serves as an event photographer at Oakwood and wherever else she is needed. 

A New Perspective

By Susan Klein

“’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord.”

Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)

Driving through northern Pennsylvania to Buffalo, NY, the terrain is very rural. Small townships and scattered farms dot the landscape. No major highways, no bustling metropolises, so I immersed myself in a good book whilst the hubby chauffeured.

Glancing up at one point, I caught sight of a sign that read: “Valley View Estates.” As I peered past the sign expecting to see magnificent homes, all I could see were a few trailers scattered about a parcel of land. My husband, noticing the same, chuckled with me as we voiced aloud, “Estates?!”  Shaking my head, I went back to my book.

A few minutes passed before the light bulb clicked on. Maybe these felt like estates to some people, especially if they lived in smaller homes or more crowded conditions. These trailers looked new and of a decent size. They were even spread out with a little land between them. Who was I to say that they couldn’t be considered “estates”?

Sometimes our perspectives can sway us into thinking that there is only one true viewpoint. For example, behind my house are many trees that extend approximately 150 yards down a hill. Having been a city girl most of my life, my perspective is that we now have a beautiful “forest” out back. Some neighbors prefer to call it “the woods,” and others who live on larger acreage might refer to it as simply “a tree line.” We all have different (none necessarily wrong) perspectives of this group of trees.

The same can be true about our religious perspectives. Where some perceive the house of God to be a place of reverential knee-bowing and solemn acts steeped in tradition, others may perceive the church to be a place of boisterous expression or speaking in tongues. Still others may perceive it to be a casual place where all feel free to worship any way they feel most comfortable.

Our perspectives typically derive from our experiences, upbringing or personal preferences. But perspective can also mean the ability to consider things in relation to one another accurately and fairly. [1]

I’m grateful for coming across that little sign out in the middle of nowhere. It has given me a new perspective and helped me to be more open-minded. While we never want to compromise solid biblical truths, we may want to consider how God might be giving people differing perspectives in order to meet their needs and to ultimately fulfill His greater purpose.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What impacts your personal viewpoints?

2. Are you open to considering new perspectives?

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 7:12; 1Peter 3:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Susan is married to Mark, and co-leads an in-home small group. She serves as a mentor to young women, and is a member of Oakwood’s Peace Team, helping people work through conflict.

[1] Cambridge Dictionary

Creative God

By Brita Crouse

“O LORD, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.”

Psalm 104:24 (NLT)

Some days, God’s creativity just astounds me. I was thinking about how creative our God is one day as I sat at my desk writing a devotional, when, within a few seconds, I saw five or six different types of animals scamper or fly across my backyard. The view from my bedroom is one of my favorites in our whole house because I have a front row seat to God’s amazing creation.

My room faces the east, with the sun waking me up with some of its first rays of the day. From my windows, I can see a small creek, a pond, and a farm field. Because I live in such a rural setting, we see an abundance of wildlife: beavers, bunnies, coyotes, deer, geese, cranes, ducks, frogs, toads, snakes, mice, robins, cardinals, and about a dozen other types of birds throughout the year. I am also witness to the planting and harvesting process, as I watch the farmers work their fields through the spring, summer and fall months. I am privy to God’s thoughtfulness and see His creativity every day, right in my own backyard, but rarely do I take time to notice and thank Him for it.

This world is teeming with products of God’s artistic hand. We can see His creativity in the blooming flowers, in the ever-changing weather, in the complexity of a blade of grass, in the variety of colors we see daily. Yet, often we are so bogged down by tragedies and difficulties of this world that we forget the beauty and uniqueness and complexity of every person, plant and animal.

I love the spring and summer seasons because it means we have the chance to watch life and growth happen for the first time all year. Seeing the flowers bloom and trees bud and animals roam freely is a good reminder of our oh-so-creative God. It is such a privilege to be surrounded by the beauty of His creation!

Our God is the Creator of all things living. Take a moment to stop and thank Him for this amazing, colorful and creative world and the opportunity we have to be a part of it.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Keep track of the creativity you see in God’s creation this week. Take time to thank Him for it!

2.  How can you take more time to notice and be appreciative of God and His creativity?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 104

Brita recently moved back to her home state of Wisconsin where she works as an Elementary School Counselor. She and her family have attended Oakwood for 20 years.

Promises
By Lexi Cole Ellis

When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.
Psalm 94: 18-19 (NIV)

I’ve always thought very literally when it came to God’s Promises: never flooding the Earth again, never will He leave us nor forsake us, etc. But a friend recently mentioned that God’s “list” of promises are endless. This got me thinking… As defined in the dictionary, a promise is to “assure someone that one will definitely do, or give something.” [1] Suddenly, verses left and right started revealing to me how often God assures us, how far He’ll go for us and how amazing is the gift of relationship that He gives us.

 It is true. There are promises galore in Scripture. God suddenly became the epitome of promises. His pursuit of us and the depths of His love for us - - despite our sin - - became a promise. His unending justice and mercy became a promise. His continual comfort became a promise.

The verse above, Psalm 94: 18-19, is a verse filled with promises. The first is the promise of support. “When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.” God promises that when we feel vulnerable, uncomfortable, shaken or scared… His love is there to support. And it’s not just a love like we experience or have experienced here on Earth. It’s an unfailing love. His love is perfect and pure. His love doesn’t let us down. His love is not hidden with secret agendas. In self-identified times of struggle or trials, God promises to support us with His great love.

The second part of the above verse shows the promise of comfort that leads to joy. “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” What I was taken by is that God doesn’t promise to take away our anxiety in this verse. Instead, He promises that the joy is a by-product when we recognize the depths of His consolation. Joy is brought on when we put our trust in God’s comfort and meditate on how vast and active His love is.

God’s promises go way beyond never flooding the Earth again. His Word contains promises that are filled with truth and hope. I’m so thankful that God’s love is unfailing, His comfort brings joy, and His promises are endless and visible all throughout Scripture.

GOING DEEPER:

1.    Take time to jot down some of the promises that you know God has made.

2.    Take time to look through some of His promises mentioned on this LINK.

FURTHER READING:
Matthew 11:28-29; Isaiah 40:29-31; Philippians 4:19

Lexi and her husband, Andrew, have an adorable dog named Calvin and are excepting their daughter sometime around June 14. She teaches sixth grade Reading and Writing and serves with Children’s Ministries.

[1] https://www.google.com/search?q=define%3A+promise&oq=define%3A+promise&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.2619j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

God’s House

By Vernette Kureck

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.”

John 14:2 (NIV)

Last year we had the opportunity to tour America’s largest home in North Carolina. The 250 room Biltmore house is an ongoing story of the love of a family, artistry and hospitality for all.  Surrounded by lavish gardens, the home began in 1895 as George Vanderbilt’s vision of possibilities for his family and friends. As you walk through the grand spaces filled with masterpieces of art and priceless antiques, the stunning furnishings of the private family quarters, indoor pool, bowling alley and the downstairs kitchens and servants’ quarters… You can’t help but be amazed at the opulence! This man’s vision was unparalleled for that time.

                                                                     

It is part of the American dream to always be building bigger and better. We love our homes. We think to the future of how they will best accommodate the growing family. Is the space functional, as well as up to date, with all the modern conveniences? Are there enough charging ports for all the technology?

Is that mud room really big enough? Do we even need a mud room?!  Should the children share a bedroom or have their own room? Does the kitchen have the latest appliances, and what are those countertops made of? Our physical comforts are of great concern.

In the above verse, Jesus is referring to our eternal home and explaining that there will be many places within Heaven. Can you even begin to contemplate the size of God’s house?  In the Bible, our Father has shared the ongoing story of His love for family, and how He provides hospitality for all of His children. If we are His children, we know where we are going. However, 1Cor 2:9 states, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.”  This tells us that no matter how vast one’s imagination is - - it still isn’t enough to comprehend what He has prepared for us in heaven.

So what is enough for us then? God’s Holy Scripture. His Word. What He has promised; He fulfills. Jesus continues in John 14:3 to state that if He is preparing a place for us, He will come and take us to Himself. We will be together… Now that I can imagine!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  How much time have you been spending on the physical family home?

2.  How does that compare to the time you spend with Jesus?

FURTHER READING:

Philippians 3:20; 1Peter 1:3-9

Vernette and her husband Ken have been married 49 years. They have been blessed with eight grandchildren. She serves Oakwood on the prayer chain and with Family Promise.       

Who Needs the Doctor?

By Tracy Smith

“When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.””

Mark 2:17 (NLT)

A couple of years ago on Facebook, a friend shared a link to a blog post called “I Went to a Strip Club.”[1] This title definitely gets your attention, doesn’t it?

The author of the blog post talks about how she and a group of pastors’ wives minister to dancers at a strip club. They listen to them; they befriend them; they love them. It was a beautiful thing to read. The author goes on to say:

“I’m not suggesting that we all have this calling.

I am not the Holy Spirit.

What I AM saying to you is that if Jesus were here,

walking among us, wouldn’t it be just like him to walk

into the most un-Christlike place (strip club or whatever) and completely freak the religious folk out?” [1]

That thought struck me right in the heart. It struck me so much that, after giving my husband and sons a quick summary of the blog post, I read the above passage out loud to them. My oldest son barked out a laugh and said, “He would totally do that! He did it with the Pharisees.” He paused and then said, “It’s the sick that need a doctor.”

Wow! When I chose to read that out loud to them, my brain was thinking about the fact that Jesus did do that kind of thing… And He did  freak out the Pharisees. But I had not yet made the leap that my son made so quickly - - that this is about the fact that the sick are the ones who need a doctor.

Jesus hung out with people that the religious crowd thought he should not. When the Pharisees questioned why he hung out with sinners, Jesus answered, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor - - sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners” (Mark 2:17, NLT).

When Jesus walked this earth, He waded right into the places that others thought He should not go and shared the love of His Father with them. Should we do any less?

GOING DEEPER:

1.    Is there a place that you feel called to go and serve, but you do not because you are afraid?

2.    If yes, what can you do about it?

FURTHER READING:

John 4:1-21; Luke 19:1-10

Along with being a wife and mother to two teenage sons, Tracy is a ministry assistant at Oakwood and works with a great group of Junior High girls.

[1] https://justajesusfollower.com/2016/05/09/i-went-to-a-strip-club/

Not About Me
By Lexi Cole Ellis

“Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
Psalm 136:26 (ESV)

This pregnancy has been a healthy one but not like what I expected. I would have loved for the nausea to be exclusive to the first trimester or the “discomfort” in these final few weeks to be less. But every piece of sickness, every jab, every moment of pain has been paradoxically paired with the realization that she is growing. That she is okay. It’s less about my own comfort levels, and more about recognizing that all of this is normal. And all of this, for now, is for her well-being. This is not about me…

This pregnancy has given me a small, tiny glimpse of what sacrifice means and what true humility looks like. Regardless of how I’ve been feeling, our goal has always been a healthy baby. And we’re so incredibly thankful it’s been that way. So I can only imagine, how much greater the sacrifice Jesus paid - - way beyond any throwing up or pre-labor pains - - way more intense and extensive than anything I have experienced.

This pregnancy has made me realize how much greater was Jesus’ humility. How much deeper was His “cost” for us. How much more immense His sacrifice was. Paul describes Jesus’ humility in Philippians 2:7-8. That while Jesus had every right to not pay our debt, “…He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant…He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!”  And why? Because of His deep love for us.

John writes about this in 1 John 3:1a, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God.” I think about how unfathomable my love is for our daughter already. How she is worth absolutely every sensation and discomfort. How much greater the Father’s Love must be for us: “…how vast beyond all measure.” [1]

This pregnancy has reminded me that so much is not about me. And it’s given me an even more beautiful picture of just how deep and wide our God’s humility and His love is… for us.

GOING DEEPER:

1.    Take time to meditate or listen to the hymn “How Deep the Father’s Love.” You can listen to one acapella version by clicking HERE.

2.    What are some specific ways you’ve seen God’s humility and deep love for you?

FURTHER READING:
Deuteronomy 7:9; Romans 5:8; Colossians 3:12

Lexi and her husband, Andrew, are expecting their daughter in June and have a dog named Calvin. Lexi teaches sixth grade Reading and Writing and serves with Children’s Ministries.

[1] Stuart Townend,  “How Deep The Father’s Love For Us,” 1995, Thank You Music, CMG Publishing

Full Coverage

By Elin Henderson

“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty.…and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

Deuteronomy 33:26-27b (NIV)

I don’t rent cars very often. But on the rare occasion that I do, I am always confused as to what kind of insurance coverage to get. There is accident insurance, liability, injury, partial, full… For someone who normally drives on dirt roads in the bush, and usually in locations where another car isn’t anywhere to be found, I get overwhelmed at the choices. I end up just saying, “Better safe than sorry!  I choose…all of the above!  Give me FULL coverage.”

It gives me a peace of mind to know that my health, life and auto insurances provide “full coverage.”  But even more than that, it gives me a peace of heart and soul to know that the God of Ages offers “full coverage” protection over me. He comes, riding the heavens and on the clouds in order to offer full coverage from above. And He waits, underneath, with His everlasting arms outstretched to offer full coverage from below. 

Who needs a knight in shining armor to ride in on his noble steed when we have the King of Kings riding in on shining clouds to help, rescue and save? Who needs a safety net of unbreakable nylon to catch us when the Everlasting Arms of our Savior, once stretched out on a tree to save us, now wait patiently to catch us should we fall? 

           

Are you being challenged to reach out and above where you are today? Perhaps it is a goal that seems unattainable or impossible, but you feel that God is calling you to stretch yourself upward anyways. He comes on the clouds wanting to reach down and offer you the strength to attain those callings. 

Are you being challenged to step out in faith but are paralyzed by a fear of falling? He is waiting beneath you with His everlasting arms, ready to catch you as you faithfully step out into the unknown. 

Whether the challenges come from above or below, His grace, strength and protection are ready to intervene! Let’s praise and thank Him today for His 24/7 “full coverage” program: 100% guaranteed and free of charge! 

GOING DEEPER:

1.    Write the challenges you are currently facing on the middle of a piece of paper. Above the challenges draw clouds and below them draw arms.  Post this where you can see it and be reminded of the “full coverage” He is offering you today!

FURTHER READING:

Mark 13:26 (Clouds); 1 Samuel 12:22 (24/7 coverage); Hebrews 13:5b (24/7 coverage)

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa.  Elin is mother to seventeen-year-old Callie and fourteen-year-old Elias. 

Choose Your Battles Wisely?

By Susan Klein

 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - - His good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Beloved, we are at war. There are seen and unseen battles raging all around us. There are political battles, moral battles, spiritual battles, ethical battles, gender battles and battles over “rights.”   Wherever two or more forces are at odds, there is a battle. And yet, the “issues at hand” are not the real battle. The real battle is between the same two opposing forces that have existed since well before our time.

Scripture tells us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. [1] The two opposing forces are that of God and that of Satan. One could argue that most battles stem from these two forces.

For example, the issue of “legalizing same-sex marriage” is a moral issue. But it is an issue polarized by two perspectives: God’s Word and Satan’s deception. It’s not really about one person’s opinion vs. another’s, nor is it about the issue itself. It is about the Deceiver who has craftily chosen to battle against Truth.

Scripture also states that our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. [2]  Make no mistake - - he isn’t choosy. He will attempt to devour good and bad alike. God has allowed Satan to have power in this world - - but only for a time. His fate has already been determined. But while he reigns on this mortal earth, he will seek to wage war against those who follow the One he opposes.

So how do we, as they say, “choose our battles wisely”?

I’d venture to assert that we don’t focus so much on the “issues.”  But rather, let us recognize the true enemy who is behind them. We can choose to battle this enemy with the truth of God’s Word [3], with steadfast faith, and with continual prayer. Is this risky? You bet! Two famous brothers risked a lucrative television career because they chose to stand on the side of Truth, rather than the side of the enemy. [4] They didn’t battle with people; they stood firm in their faith.

Yes, we all have to choose… but not sides of an issue.  Instead, let us ask ourselves, “With Whom will I stand?”

GOING DEEPER:

1. Are you standing firm in your faith?

2. Are you willing to take risks?

FURTHER READING:

[1] Ephesians 6:12; [2] 1 Peter 5:8; [3] Hebrews 4:12

Susan is married to Mark, and has two adult children. She enjoys teaching Bible studies, writing, and tutoring with the Literacy Council. She is a member of the Peace Team at Oakwood and also co-leads an on-site small group.

[4] https://www.facebook.com/BenhamBrothers/?pnref=story

     http://benhambrothers.com

The Top
By Sarah Walker

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
Psalm 63:3 (ESV)

May I share something with you? It’s a topic that I don’t usually talk about because it can be interpreted as prideful. Yet as Jesus brings me closer to him, I can see that if I don’t talk about it, I am not sharing the lessons that Jesus has taught me through these experiences. With that in mind, please read what I write below in His light… looking for what you can learn about Jesus, too.

We all have desired to reach the top in some form or another. Be it the pinnacle of popular opinion, beauty, athletic ability or any other number of items. For me, I worked hard, gave it my all and attained the top of academic achievement. I trusted in God during this time, and I know He directed my steps and opened doors that would otherwise be closed. With Him, I took top honors in the fields of my study. I double majored in college and earned the top GPA in both of my majors. I was in the top 5% of the college and then earned the top scholarship to my graduate school.

Expectations were high of me. When I didn’t perform to those expectations, I was pulled aside and interrogated. When I did well, I was lauded on the one hand, but always with renewed expectations on the other hand. Because of this, I needed Jesus during those times and clung desperately to Him. I repeated Psalm 63, particularly the above verse, many times. Its rhythm and cadence became well known to me, providing an anchor of truth. I knew in my head that God loved me no matter what the outcome of my performance was. But getting that truth into my heart took a lot more work.

Eventually, His unconditional love helped me overcome my need to meet others’ expectations. Nothing surpasses the love of God. Not even the top. Whatever you are striving after - - if you do reach the top - - you will find nothing that truly satisfies you up there. Nothing that fills you and completes you. No matter how much you strive or achieve, it will ultimately leave you wanting more. Nothing in life can complete you like the steadfast love of our precious Jesus.

GOING DEEPER:

1.    Do you truly view the steadfast love of God as being better than life?

2.    If there is something in your life that you need to share in order to honor Jesus, regardless of how other people might interpret your motives, find a trustworthy person and begin by telling them.

FURTHER READING:
Matthew 5:13-16, Ecclesiastes 2:9-11

Sarah is married to Scott and is a full-time mom to their two young sons. She and Scott are involved in a small group focused on prayer.