Though my husband is retired from vocational ministry, we are still involved in ministry every day of our lives. Gaylon was a pastor for thirty-three years and a chaplain for eighteen years. It was never a position for him, never. Gaylon, as a pastor, loved the flock dearly. He cried when sitting with someone who cried. He loved those who seemed unloveable. He rejoiced with those who rejoiced.

One of the things that always stood out to me while Gaylon was a pastor, was his ability to love and forgive those who wounded him. I know all pastors have imperfections, but trust me when I tell you sheep bite, and often the bite goes deep.

My husband Gaylon is one of the finest, most godly men on the face of the earth and was a wonderful pastor. Though he pastored churches with several hundred in them, Gaylon also willingly pastored smaller churches when he felt it was the call of God.

Often, we think it is the guy with the huge church that is “the” great pastor. It is the pastor who is well-known or the one who has thousands following them on social media. Gaylon Benton would not fall into those categories, but he was one of the best pastors I have ever met. (This is being said by a woman who knows him very well!)

When Gaylon was pastor of a smaller church in Florida that had about a hundred people, we faced a rough time. The sheep bites were difficult. About ten percent of the people created a “task force” to stand up against Gaylon’s ministry. Some had been our very close friends. Without giving a lot of detail, suffice it to say they left the church and did so very vocally. It was both hurtful and discouraging.

A couple of days later, as we went to our scheduled Saturday night prayer meeting, we were at an incredibly low point. We were faithful to prayer during our personal pain.

Word had spread through the church about the group that left. As we got to the prayer meeting, to our surprise quite a few showed up to pray with us – people who did not regularly come. They wanted us to know that they were standing with us and praying for us.

Negative chatter continued for a while but so did the encouragement and prayers of those people. It was a breath of fresh air! Long story short – that church completely turned around over the next eighteen months numerically and financially.

One thing that kept us going was the encouragement from others.

Kindness in the little things can encourage folks who feel like they cannot take another step, or are walking in confusion, hurt, and pain. Your kindness and encouragement could very well release the power of the Holy Spirit into the life of someone ready to quit. Encouragement can give wind to the sails to help a pastor or someone else complete the mission to which they have been called.

Who can use your encouragement today? Your pastor? Your nephew? Your neighbor? Your co-worker? Someone who recently lost a loved one? Your mayor? Everyone can be used by God to encourage another. Send a text. Send a card. Make a meal for someone. Invite for coffee or lunch someone who is struggling. Take time to encourage your leaders, friends, and family, especially if they are in a low place. You do not have to have all the answers. It is amazing what the ministry of encouragement can do.

The ministry of encouragement can be life changing. I know a pastor who got fresh wind in his sails, simply by those who encouraged him, and I know him well!

Galatians 6:10 ESV – “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

When we moved into the first home we built in 1985, it was so exciting. Having three boys, we wanted a place where they could romp and enjoy life, so we built a house in the country just around the corner from my husband’s parents.

After months of waiting, it was time to move into our new home. Oh, happy day! That excitement did not last very long. I walked into the closet of our master bedroom. There were boxes and paper all over the floor. I wanted to get everything neatly arranged. I began hanging our clothes, and every few minutes, I would hear rustling and scratching. The sound would come, and then it would stop. Finally, I began to move the boxes and items on the floor. About that time, three little mice ran for their lives. I was right behind them running for mine!

I do not like mice or rats. Having them as pets would never set well with me!

In the 1950s, Dr. Curt Richter, a Harvard graduate, and Johns Hopkins scientist, did a series of experiments using rats. (I am aware that today PETA would say no!) In the experiment, Dr. Richter tested how long rats could swim in high-sided buckets of circulating water before drowning. He found that a rat would swim about fifteen minutes before giving up, sinking, and drowning.

Dr. Richter continued his experiment. He would rescue the rats just as they gave up and sank to the bottom. He would take them out of the water, dry them off, and let them rest for a few minutes. Dr. Richter would then put them back into the same buckets of circulating water, but they would swim for an average of sixty hours.

Conclusion: If a rat were saved – even temporarily, it would survive 240 times longer than if it were not saved at all. Dr. Richter wrote that “the rats quickly learn that the situation is not actually hopeless” and that “after elimination of hopelessness the rats do not die.”

The rats kept swimming because they had hope that they would not succumb to the circumstances. Being saved gave them hope.

I will not pontificate greatly in this blog. I will simply say if Jesus Christ has saved you, you always have hope in any circumstance in which you find yourself. God’s Word has much to say about hope.

• May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. – Romans 15:13 ESV
• For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
• Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. – Romans 12:12 ESV
• For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. – Romans 15:4 ESV
• Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:3 ESV

Do you feel like you are about to go under? If you have been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ, keep swimming with hope!

When we read chapter two of the book of Luke, we learn details of the birth of Jesus. Most of us are familiar with the story of Joseph and Mary heading to Bethlehem because of the census. While there, Mary delivered Jesus in a less than sterile environment that one desires when giving birth.

That trip to Bethlehem was about an eighty-mile journey. We think nothing of that today, because by car, we could make it in an hour and a half or a couple of hours. For pregnant Mary it was a long, dusty, uncomfortable journey. But God gave them safety and strength for the journey that would set them up for the will of God to be birthed. (SELAH)

As we progress in the reading of Luke two, we read about the angels appearing to shepherds. The shepherds were terrified, but the angel told them not to be afraid for he brought wonderful news. The Messiah, Savior of the world, had been born in Bethlehem, the city of David.  The shepherds quickly traveled to find Jesus and were amazed.

Most of us know the story up to this point, but really paying attention to the last part of the chapter shows us so much truth. Take time to read about Jesus being taken to the temple, Simeon and Anna seeing the promised Messiah and their reactions. Take time to slowly read and comprehend the many promises of God that were fulfilled. God will fulfill in His time what He has spoken.

I want us to pay particular attention to the last two verses in chapter two. “Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” – Luke 2: 51-52 NKJV.

At this point Jesus is twelve years old. He went back to Nazareth to live with His earthly family and learn how to live with others and walk an obedient life. Read that again!

Jesus did not only do extraordinary things. He did ordinary things. He did not suddenly have a great leadership position. He did not walk around telling people who He was and that they had better respect Him. The Bible says that Jesus went home and was subject to His earthly parents. He did chores like the others. He obeyed when they told Him to do things he might not want to do. Jesus was not so spiritual that it exempted Him from learning to live correctly in His home.

That surely was not always easy. He loved the things of God and could have insisted that His only job was to read the scripture and pray. He did those things, but He also learned to live before others a life that showed his spiritual maturity. (SELAH)

Growth happens where we are. Growth happens when we live and walk among others. What occurred between us and God in the secret place should become a part of who we are when we walk among others.

“Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.” – Luke 2:52

Jesus grew right where He was planted. It was not always perfect circumstances. Everybody did not like Him. The first few verses of John chapter seven clearly show us that His brothers did not believe in Him. They even taunted Him to go and do some miracles so people can see how great You are.

Yet, Jesus increased in wisdom. Jesus increased in stature, not just becoming bigger physically but a bigger person.  Jesus grew in favor with God and man. Jesus grew in favor with God and He learned how to grow in favor with people. He learned how to treat people. Jesus was not born a superman. He grew in the life in which he was placed on earth.

This verse spoke to me so much recently that it has become a part of my prayer life. “God, I want to grow right where I am. Yes, it would be nice if things were easier in some areas. But I want to grow in wisdom. I want to become a bigger person inside. I want to grow in Your favor, God. I want to grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with God, then I shall find myself growing in favor with those around me.”

Jesus walked in the natural which helped to develop Him for the supernatural. Home, work, and small group gatherings are a great place to grow. Yep! Those places, though difficult at times, are great places to develop wisdom, stature, favor with God and people.

Much of the details about the life of Jesus as he grew up are silent, but this we know, that was not wasted time. It was developmental time for him intellectually, spiritually, and relationally. He did not pop out of the womb being all knowing. He grew as He walked the earth. He grew as He walked around people, even people who might feel like sandpaper!

Where you are right now is a great place to grow!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and people. It was not automatic, but day by day and year by year. Lord, teach me to grow in mind, body, spirit, and relationships. Help me to grow right where I am. Let my days with You lead to a balanced maturity in my life. I submit myself to the growth process You have for me. Let my life honor You and bless others. Amen.