Abide in the Vine

                I have been home now for about three months.  It has been a time of growth.  After arriving home, readjusting, and touching base with my supporters, a season of waiting commenced.  I don’t know anyone who particularly enjoys a season of waiting and I have to admit that it wasn’t easy.  When I was in India God very clearly showed me that I was to go home and press into Him.  That was the only direction I received and I understood that it was enough.  So when I returned home I made it priority to seek God’s will.  At times I was more faithful in pressing into Him than others.  But I waited on the Lord, trusting that in His time He would show me the next step in my ministry process.  For three months I prayed that God would give me an opportunity to get involved in ministry while I was at home.  At the same time I prayed that He would also open a door to ministry in the realm of human trafficking.  I hoped that these opportunities would be presented to me sooner rather than later, but I also knew that I needed to trust God to do things in His time.  So in the mean time I learned a lesson in patience and in surrender; as I learned more about what it means to daily submit myself to the will of God. 

                Finally I realized that in this season of waiting I was desperately in need of community and encouragement.  I needed to talk about my struggles as well as my victories with people who were of like mind and heart.  I had my family and my church body but I also needed to stay in contact with others who had a similar heart for ministry.  When I did this I was immediately encouraged.  I was able to see more clearly the lessons that God was leading me through.  And I saw my journey in a fresh light.  Through all of this God reminded me again to abide in the vine.  John 15:5 says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing”.  That is powerful.  Basically nothing is imposable with God, but without Him what I can do IS nothing!  Even if I am capable of doing great things by myself it would all amount to nothing.  Only when I am abiding in God and allowing Him to work through me, according to His will and in His time, will I really bear fruit for God’s glory.  Thus God’s timing is worth waiting for, and in the mean time I must abide in Christ.  But what does that mean, what does it look like to abide in Christ?  I believe that it means daily surrender.  It is not about my plans or my desire it is about God’s desire and His will.  “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Prov. 16:9).  Abiding in God is about letting God direct your steps and it is a daily choice.  There is still so much more to abiding in Christ then this, but this was the reminder I needed.  I needed to rest in the knowledge that God is in control and be faithful to seek Him daily.  When I did this God moved.  

  

                Now I am not saying that abiding in God should be used as a means to an end; it should not.  To abide in God is an end in itself.  But in John 15:7-8 it says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”  Praise God!  He answered my prayers.  The next week I was given the opportunity to meet with three women.  They are each involved in various aspects of the fight to end human trafficking, specifically sex trafficking, in Virginia.  They are mostly working through awareness, advocacy, and prevention.  I have been able to partner with their three ministries in the fight.  At the moment I have joined with them in justice initiatives that are working in Virginia Beach and in Richmond.  I am so excited about the work being done and about the doors God has opened.  Ministry towards victims of sex trafficking has been so much a part of my heart and my life for the past six years and I am blessed do this work in my own state.  God, in His infinite faithfulness, opened a door to partner with others who are doing the work of this ministry.  And His timing is good.  I also learned a lot through the season of waiting as He worked all things together for good. 

                Along with having joined with justice ministries, a few weeks ago I was also able to begin a young adult’s ministry at my church.  It is a ministry for 18-30 year olds.  Then this past week I was able to meet with leadership and the elders to talk about the vision and purpose for this ministry.  And I received their blessing.  So now things are going full swing with that ministry and God has already moved in exciting ways through that group; seeing hearts touched and lives transformed.  So praise God!  His timing is perfect, His plans are good, and His mercies are new every day.  Great is His faithfulness!    

                Please continue to partner with me in prayer as I continue in the work of God’s ministry, as I learn each day what it means to truly abide in Him, and take on these new tasks and opportunities for ministry.  Pray that God would be my peace, that He would give me wisdom, discernment, love, and strength.  Thank you so much for your support.   



This is a picture of a group, from our young adult’s ministry, that went out door to door and collected Thanksgiving food for needy families.