I'm a Winner !

It’s a hot topic in academia and beyond: the supposed lack of discipline among today’s young adults. An interesting article I read at least a few dozen times in college as a writing tutor put it this way: “Having been raised on gold stars for effort and smiley faces for self-esteem, [students today have] learned that they can get by without hard work and real talent if they can talk the professor into giving them a break.” Debating that proposition is for another time. But the mentality that everybody wins isn’t always such a bad thing, especially in light of God’s promises.

Lately I’ve been thinking about God’s faithfulness compared to our own. We’ve all had people disappoint us—and we disappoint others. It’s what we do or say—or don’t do. Even those most faithful to us are limited by often uncontrollable incidents such as sickness, accidents...death. And we go through difficult times that don’t have anything to do with our actions. That’s just life.

But one thing I have found is that with Christ, there’s always a winning end to every situation. I can think of so many times when I don’t understand why something is happening—or what God is doing. But at some point—the end of the situation or somewhere in between, God’s control, which is always present, becomes fully evident. It’s more than just “everything happens for a reason” or “experience is the best teacher.” Rather, God uses trying events to teach us that all we really need to thrive in this life is Him. 2 Corinthians 2:14a says, "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ" (Israel & New Breed sing this verse well). “Always” is, of course, the opposite of never—and much more than sometimes. It’s every time. Because Jesus trounced sin and death, with Him, I can overcome anything!

How should this affect how we live? First, it means I put my hope in Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:58 also says that because we triumph in Christ, we should constantly invest our time in the things that bring victory: “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” That’s a powerful, life-changing guarantee.

With Christ, the idea of victory every time isn’t so flaky…so yes, we can all win!

Our Time

I had never been much into Hip Hop. I used to listen to it more in the 90s, but, as I’ve said before, I’d always been much more of a pop-r&b-soft rock person. Then in the last few years I got more into many different types of Christian music. My most recent discovery? A growing love for Holy Hip Hop.

Christian Rap, I mean (I know rap and hip hop are sometimes distinguished, but I am no expert and choose to use them interchangeably here). There are some deep, purposeful artists in mainstream hip hop, but we all know misogyny, debauchery, etc., are staples of the genre, too. I easily got tired of artists objectifying women in one song and being “spiritual” in the next. But because the main purpose of Christian Rap is to glorify God, there are no real lyrical inconsistencies to reconcile. Instead, I’m free to appreciate completely the rhymes the artists create. They are powerful—and hot.

I haven’t been listening long enough to declare a favorite artist, but the trio Group 1 Crew comes closest to this distinction. They have a lead vocalist, Blanca; the other two members, Manuel and Pablo, mostly rap. I love their beats; vocals; and very personal lyrics about dreams, hope and true fellowship with God. On their latest album, Ordinary Dreamers, there’s a song about the importance of daily spending time with God, aptly titled “Our Time.” It makes me reflect on how God uses personal time to make radical changes in character that only He can. An artist that can turn thoughts about quiet time (with God) into a catchy tune—and present a consistent message in other songs—has my vote.

If you haven’t, give Holy Hip Hop a chance. To start, here’s Our Time.

Something New

I’m excited. I'll be doing something I’ve never done: model. What I’ll be representing: Worth the Wait, an organization that uses fashion to promote sexual purity.

I wasn’t drawn to the opportunity for the chance to walk down a runway but for the cause. For years I’ve been passionate about promoting a pure lifestyle. As I’ve said before, true purity is not just about abstaining from sex, but also every other decision you make. What you watch. How you think. What you do with your time. If we know Christ, we are called to a life of holiness that can be achieved only with Him.

But the message of Worth the Wait is not one of perfection. Nobody is perfect. Rather, it is to encourage singles (and others) that no matter what decisions you have made in the past, living a pure lifestyle in Christ is not beyond anyone’s reach. You do not have to be a virgin to model with Worth the Wait, but you do have to be dedicated to honoring God with your body moving forward. The models have many different testimonies leading to a commitment to purity. A major part of modeling with Worth the Wait is sharing your story.

I see this new gig as a testament to the fact that God can use anything He’s given you in ministry, even the things that may seem to have little to do with it. I’ve always been told I have “a walk,” or, alternatively, a “strut.” I’ve never really understood what people are talking about; the only thing I’m concerned with when I move is getting to the next point quickly. But I’ve prayed for God to use all of me, even my so-called walk. When I learned that auditioning to be part of Worth the Wait involved walking down a runway, I saw this as an answer to prayer. I don’t know whether my walk helped me get the opportunity, but now that I have it, I’m owning it for His kingdom!

I’ll be in at least three fashion shows in the upcoming year. Once I know details, I’ll post how you can support Worth the Wait by attending! As the organization’s mantra says, “You are Worth the Wait!!!”