ICYMI: In Sharpie: A Reflection on Baptism of the Lord Sunday
If you missed Sunday's service or could use a refresher, here's a quick recap featuring sharables and takeaways from our gathering. Scroll to the bottom for the full sermon recording.
📖 Focal Scripture
🎯 Reflection
The holy audacity of God is this: before we prove ourselves useful, before we get our act together, before we figure out who we are, we're already claimed as beloved. This isn't a gold star for good behavior—it's the foundation of who we are, written in permanent ink on our hearts.
🗣️ Key Quotation
“As we get older, we find ourselves in a world that constantly demands we prove our worth. We chase accomplishments, certifications, and social media validation. We exhaust ourselves trying to earn what we already have. The voices of comparison, competition, and criticism try to scratch out or cover over that original name: Beloved. We forget who we are. We forget whose we are.” — Pastor Brent Levy
🙏 Prayer
Triune God, who knows us before we know ourselves, write your love so deeply on our hearts that no voice of shame or unworthiness can erase it, so that we might live as bearers of your light in a world yearning for belonging. Amen.
💡 Journaling Prompts
When do I feel most deeply known and loved? Describe a specific moment when I felt truly seen for who I am.
When was the last time I felt like I belonged somewhere without having to perform or prove myself? What made that experience special?
Like Sidney recognizing his friends' baby pictures, who in my life knows me deeply? Who do I know deeply?
➡️ Next Step
On Baptism of the Lord Sunday, we remember that we share in Jesus's identity: "Beloved." This week, whenever you catch your reflection--in mirrors, windows, or screens--pause and say to yourself: "I am God's beloved." Let each glimpse remind you of your true identity. Consider placing "Beloved" notes on mirrors or setting gentle phone reminders. When self-criticism or the need for validation arises, return to this truth: before any accomplishment or failure, you are already and always God's beloved.
