Thursday, November 19, 2009

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Luke 10:2

Are the workers few at Greenridge?

I would like to take the time to walk through one of the many accounts that I am most thankful for this Thanksgiving season.

Six years ago my husband and I brought our infant daughter to Greenridge, where she was dedicated. During this ceremony the church body affirms that they will work alongside of us, the parents, in nurturing the spiritual development of the children we dedicate. So here is an account of that good work.

There have been six years of regularly attending Sunday worship services, which included childcare/worship/Bible study for our daughter: that is more than 300 Sundays; in at least 5 different classrooms with at least 2 workers in each classroom… that’s the work of 1,200 hands over 6 years. In addition to that, there was 3 years of attending the CDC at Greenridge, 9 months a year, 5 days a week, 3 classrooms each with at least 2 workers… that’s the work of at least another 700+ hands. If that were not enough, there were 2 years of Half Notes Choir, 24 weeks of meeting, at least 2 workers… almost another 100 hands and on top of that VBS for 2 years and 1 year of Covenant Christian Elementary Education, supported by members of Greenridge, both of which are impossible for me to count the number of hands who work in these two ministries. So… Are the workers few at Greenridge? Not by my account.

How is this relevant? And for what am I thankful? I am thankful that on November 4, 2009 my daughter asked Jesus to come live in her heart and she has a new inheritance in Christ. A new inheritance, not the one she was born into, but the one she was intended for. My husband and I were saved as adults, which comes with its own difficulties – difficulties that our 6 year old daughter will hopefully never experience as a result of her new inheritance, and for that I will be forever thankful. The workers at Greenridge surely had many hands sowing that process.

“But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” Luke 8:11-15

I brought my little seed, and it fell upon the good soil at Greenridge. I am thankful to all the workers who persevered, and I am most thankful to my God who shows us his harvest so that we know we labor not in vain.

As the song goes… “a little is much when God’s in it HE changes the world with the seeds we sow.”

Be encouraged to continue HIS work Greenridge. His harvest is coming in!

~Melissa Dyer