Growing in Grace

Jeanette Wood — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 11:09:43 +0000

Growing in grace reminds me of my first gardening experience. I had never gardened before, but that didn’t stop me from having dreams and expectations of a great harvest. I read every gardening magazine I could get my hands on through the winter months. I plotted my plans on scratch paper, purchased a variety of seeds, studied soil types and visited the garden store. Finally, spring was here. I tilled the ground and made perfect rows measured and remeasured. With great care, I plated each seed. I watered morning and evening. Hours were spent outside with my hands in the dirt and dreams of harvest on my mind.

And then I waited, and I waited. It seemed like I waited for weeks when in reality it was only hours that had lead to days.

Three Surprising Tips to Master Patience

Grow in Grace
Faith in His ability is more than trusting the process; it’s trusting our Creator.
Cultivate Gratitude

Learn to rest on your hoe while growing in grace

In my impatience, I took my hand shovel, went outside, and started digging up each seed I had planted. Yes, you read that right. I dug my seeds up before they sprouted. I observed that some of the seeds had “long stringy things” so I discarded them as rotten. There were other times when I tiled the rows from weeds when in reality I was removing my brand new seedlings. My mother in law would later tell me, “Jeanette, you need to learn to rest on your hoe.” She continued her conversation, over tea, explaining the importance of waiting while gardening. Over the years, I learned to enjoy this waiting process. The lessons from my garden have been numerous.

It’s not only gardening that requires patience, is it?

Today, I am reminded of 2 Peter 3:18

“Grow in Grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Have you ever been impatient with growth in your life? Growth can look messy like those sprouting seeds. There are times when we are tempted to discard the process of growth. Times when we are impatient with the growth and blind to our progress. I’m sure that is why we were given this reminder from Philippians.

Faith in His ability is more than trusting the process; it’s trusting our Creator.

Whenever I hear someone tell me, “trust the process” it makes me cringe. I don’t normally trust processes. Consider the DMV, do you trust their process? I know I don’t. or what about the court system do you trust their process? We’d like to right? But the reality is I don’t. However, when I put my faith in God’s ability then the process is nothing more than the journey I must travel. If there’s anything I’ve learned in my 50 years of life, it’s that I can be confident in Him, His abilities, and His plan for my life- even when it’s difficult.

Philippians 1:6

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Php 1:6). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Cultivate Gratitude

To allow grace to grow in our lives we must cultivate gratitude. Removing weeds of complacency, doubt, fear, and entitlement and instead cultivate gratitude, remembering His faithfulness and goodness toward us.

Psalm 107:1

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: For his mercy endureth forever.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ps 107:1). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

I need to remember my mother in laws words and apply them to my spiritual life. Resting on my “hoe” is essential. Resting allows the grace that God has planted to grow at His pace and not my own. With grateful hearts, let us be confident that He alone will complete the good work He has begun. If you’re on a journey of growing in grace don’t miss my post, “Grace in the Wilderness.”

Until our next chat.

Mrs. Joseph Wood

P.S. Totally random, but If you’re a garden lover (or maybe you’re just like me and enjoy playing in the dirt) go to my friend’s site and purchase your heirloom garden seeds. You’ll find a beautiful assortment, high-quality seed and be supporting a lovely family in the process!

The post Growing in Grace appeared first on Mrs. Joseph Wood.

Rest- Finding Grace in the Wilderness

Jeanette Wood — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 09:52:24 +0000

Are you longing for rest? Have you ever felt alone even though you’re in the midst of many? I know I have. This last week, my husband and I waited in the Starbuck’s line. He asked, “Have you ever felt alone or is that something only shy people experience?” I replied with sincerity, sharing the depth of loneliness I have felt in my lifetime. Instantly, he could see that loneliness wasn’t just for “shy” people.

Loneliness can creep up on us in both the good and hard times. Often, loneliness reveals itself most when we’re walking through a difficult season of life.

Jeremiah 31: 2

“Thus saith the Lord, The people who which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness;”

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Je 31:2). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Life’s journey is sure to lead us to the wilderness at one time or another.

I have applied so much energy to avoid the desolate places in life. I have searched in vain for the detours, shortcuts, or the easy way out. Dreading these moments in life, I held my breath and walked through the wilderness. I had some notion that I could complete the journey, untouched, and as quickly as possible.

Mark 6:31

“And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while”

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Mk 6:31). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

I remember the moment of solitude when the Lord asked me to stop rushing through the wilderness. When He invited me to pause and fellowship with Him in the midst of my most desolate places.

As I shared this memory with my daughter, without hesitation, she replied, “Oh! desolation, that doesn’t sound like a pleasant place!” She verbalized what my soul had screamed on multiple occasions in my lifetime.

At that time, I thought my survival was dependent on how fast I could get through these painful moments. The idea that God called me to this desolate place. The thought that He wanted to fellowship with me in the wilderness. These ideas brought a whole new outlook to my journey through the desert. Looking back, I can clearly see God was in the very place, the desert, that I had been trying to avoid. Not only was He there, but He had provided grace and rest for me in this desolate place.

Friend, are you needing rest? Do you feel like you’re trying to skirt around the wilderness? Do you feel alone as you travel? Take heart, God is there calling you to come away with Him to that place of rest is filled with grace!!

Discovering Grace In The Wilderness

Create a gratitude book devoted to this season of life.
Use colored pencils! Allow your creativity to add splashes of art on the pages as you journal.
Enjoy this uplifting Spotify account, Grace in the Wilderness, with encouraging music
Gather reminders of encouraging passages from Scripture. Place these reminders around the house, in the car, and in your workplace.
Make time to be quiet before the Lord, praying and reading the Word. Be careful to guard this time! Don’t let any busy work steal this time away from you.

Until our next chat,