Hi Ladies,

We’re still in the process of collecting ideas for Christmas (as we mentioned in last week’s post) – so please email me (clare@gracechurchbristol.org) your suggestions of Christmas activities, decorations, recipes, anything else, etc, and we will start posting them from next friday.

While we continue to gather your information I thought I’d post a little something for your encouragement.

The following recently posted on the Sovereign Grace Pastors Wives’ Blog, by Liz Emerson.  Liz is the wife of Gene Emerson, who is the senior pastor of Kingsway Community Church, in Midlothian, Virginia, USA.  Kinsgway Community Church is part of Sovereign Grace Ministries.

I trust this encourages you.

Harvesting Godliness Through Grace
by Liz Emerson

I love vegetable gardening! I grew up in the same town with both sets of my grandparents, and both of my granddads were vegetable gardeners. I loved digging potatoes in Papaw’s garden, and enjoying Pop’s delicious home-grown cantaloupes!

I’ve followed in their footsteps with a garden of my own, and last spring, Gene surprised me by having my garden tilled early, so that I was able to get an early crop of lettuce, spinach, sugar snap peas, and beets (yes, beets! – they’re one of my favorites!) The next day it rained–actually it POURED–and I was concerned that all of my seeds had washed away. At the end of the week I checked to look for some signs of growth, and there was none. Several days later I checked again, and again observed no life peeking through the ground.

During my third check a few days later, I started to be discouraged, thinking that my labor had been in vain–no sign of growth! But on closer examination, I saw a long crack in the ground in the lettuce row! No leaves yet, but just the ground cracking open in a long, straight line–something was going on under the surface. I was so happy I began to thank the Lord (I get excited over little things!), and at that moment I was aware of God speaking to me…… as if He was saying, “Liz, do you see how excited you are about that small sign of growth in the ground? Well, that’s how I am with you! Every bit of change in you is a work of My grace – and I am pleased with even the smallest amount of growth.”
I realized how discouraged I can become when I don’t see fruit; but God sees–and is pleased–with the work HE is doing in my life! Can you relate? Do you find yourself easily discouraged about a perceived “lack of growth” in your life?

As I reflected on those times when I’m discouraged, three particular challenges came to mind: Being too focused on my sin, comparing my self with others, and not trusting God for growth in my life.

Being too sin focused. As a pastor’s wife, I often place a particular pressure on myself to “grow in godliness”. Living with an awareness that “people are watching”, or that I need to be “a good example to other women”, I can become pre-occupied with my spiritual growth. Now, growing in godliness is something we are called to do! But I can become pridefully too aware of “how much I need to grow”, rather than enjoying the grace of God in every day life.

Sinful comparison with others. I often become discouraged by comparing my perceived growth with others. The Lord used Isaiah 29:16 to help: “You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker “He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding?” When I compare myself rather than rejoicing in who God has made me, I (the clay), am saying to the Potter, “You don’t have understanding! Instead, my response needs to be that of Isaiah 64:8: “But now, O Lord, your are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand”. God is forming us to be exactly like He wants us to be. Not like Susie; Not like Sally; but a vessel He is uniquely shaping and forming for His service. I can rest in His unique and wonderful work in my life because He is making me (and all of us!) just as He wants us to be!

Not trusting God for growth in my life. When I don’t see growth immediately, I often become discouraged. But Mark 4:28 reveals the process: “All by itself the soil produces grain–first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head”. Do you see the progression here? Slow, steady, purposeful growth from a perfect God! God causes growth, but He in His sovereignty has a perfect timetable for it!
So, how can I dig out of the pit of discouragement I create for myself? The answer is with the Gospel!!

The Gospel starts with God! Philippians 1:6 tells us that “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion”. It was the Lord’s wonderful saving work for us on the cross that began our salvation. And He not only began it, He promises to “bring it to completion”. What wonderful truth from God! As we fight these discouragements that say, “You’re not growing! or “You’re not changing!” or “Your not growing fast enough”, we can declare confidently: “God is at work in my life! He started this good work, and He is bringing His good work to completion”!

I can no more bring growth into my own life than I can pressure my seeds to grow. Yes, I need to position myself for growth. I need to sow God’s Word faithfully into my heart. I need to cultivate a heart of humility towards God and others. But it is God who “gives the growth”! HE is at work in our lives both to “will and work for his good pleasure”. (Phil. 2:13) Isn’t that good news? GOD is at work in our lives! Each and every day, even when I don’t “see” the growth, growth is happening!

We need to remember that it takes months or years for some seeds to germinate. This is not the kind of information we want to consider when it relates to our own spiritual growth. We want growth, and we want it fast! When we don’t detect growth in our own lives, we need to trust our faithful God. There can be lots of growth “beneath the surface”; we just need faith to trust God’s work in our lives. We are called to plant and water as He prompts us, but it is God who “gives the growth” (1 Cor. 3:6). He has planned when visible growth will appear, and in the meantime, we need to trust that He is always at work in our lives!

Encouragement is a wonderful gift we can give to one another as we fight for faith in this area of our lives. As we look for and see God at work in others, we need to regularly let others know about it. This will help us keep our hearts softened toward the Lord – not hardened by “the deceitfulness of sin”. (Heb. 3:16)

Let’s face it. We all have areas where we need to grow, and we always will. Perfection is never going to happen, but that’s ok! Our focus this side of eternity should be to get to know our amazing Savior, to grow in our understand of the wonderful work He did for us on the cross, and leave the “growth” to God. What a wonderful preoccupation!

That day in my garden, God put a skip in my step and a song in my heart. As I became aware of HIS activity in my life, my heart was filled with joy! As we each learn to “leave the growth to God”, grace will be more amazing, and joy will flood our lives. HE is at work in us, and He will finish the work that He began!