“Blessed is the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by the water, that yields its fruit in season and its leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers (emphasis added).” — Psalm 1:1-3
The new motto, “Thrive”, for Women’s Ministries at GRC is taken from this passage. Here we find those who delight in the law of the Lord spending time meditating on it all of the time. The result is being planted like a tree, and in verse 3 we see that this tree is rooted producing green leaves and fruit. This is a vivid picture that depicts security despite everything going on around it because this tree relies on being grounded in God’s Word. It takes nourishment from the roots digging deep into the living water, Jesus Christ. This tree will thrive not just survive. The Women’s Leadership Committee desires that all the women in our church to be planted in Scripture and “Thrive!”
As the leadership considered Bible studies for this fall, we landed on the study, “Proverbs 31, a Woman that Fears the Lord,” by Emalyn Spencer. The fear of the Lord must be the foundation of all our lives, so where better to start than with the best possible foundation for our lives? When we begin to understand who and what God is we learn to fear and reverence Him. This proper attitude toward God in turn relieves our fears because of the finished work of Christ who saves us. As a result, we are able to become a true Provers 31 woman. Not because of our own merits or abilities, but because we have been saved through faith in Christ unto good works. What a relief! The list of qualities given in the text are impossible on our own!
Interestingly, in the Hebrew scriptures, Proverbs 31 is immediately followed by the book of Ruth, a woman who truly feared the Lord. This placement was not a mistake. Who better than Ruth illustrates a woman who feared Yahweh and allowed Him to direct her paths. Our entire beings, including intellect and emotions, as well as our spiritual selves, need to be shaped by putting God first rather than just a piece of our lives.
We are excited that more than 40 women are signed up to participate in Bible study this fall (and you are still welcome even if you haven’t signed up yet!) We are encouraged that women want to have a deeper relationship with their Creator and a better understanding of the Word given to us through the ages. “A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised,” Proverbs 31:30b. That is the bottom line. May God provide enlightenment as we stretch to comprehend His plan for us as women and may we not just survive but Thrive as we rest in Him!
Sharon Augsburger has been a member of GRC since 2013. She serves on the women’s leadership team of our Women’s Ministry.