#ElevatedFriday, June 8th, 2018

Happy #ElevatedFriday! Today we highlight the story of an inner-city young man who overcame the odds, illness, and teasing from his classmates to make his college dream come true. As a child, Richard Jenkins was always passionate about learning. So much so, that he was always the one in class who raised his hand to answer or ask questions. Because of this, his peers began mocking him by calling him “Harvard.” During middle school, life was tough for Richard. His family lost their home to foreclosure and he and his family lived in and out of homeless shelters across two different states. Richard also struggled with severe migraine headaches for years, but through all of it, Richard understood the incalculable value of an education. He voraciously pursued his studies, and by the time he was ready to graduate high school, he was the class valedictorian. Richard applied to many colleges, but one was his ultimate goal: Harvard. To Richard’s delight, he was accepted into the Class of 2022! Richard’s journey through all that life can throw at a young child to achievement of a life changing opportunity is truly remarkable.

We all go through tough times in life; times when our bodies will ache, our minds will be exhausted, and our faith tested. But God is the ultimate provider and when we place our faith in Jesus, the insurmountable becomes merely a challenge. Our lives will never be easy, but we serve a God who is bigger than our problems and for whom nothing is impossible. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus puts it this way, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” Today, give thanks to God for being your provider for all things in life.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples: 'Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?'” – Luke 12:22-26

Original Article:

https://bit.ly/2LoQDGi