Abiding Fruit

Many of you know that I absolutely love the writings of Andrew Murray and am constantly reading his works. If you're not familiar with who he was, you should become familiar. He led an amazing life for the Lord and because of him hundreds of thousands of people came to know Christ in South Africa and around the globe.

Anyway, I recently decided to reread The True Vine and felt like I needed to share one particular excerpt on abiding fruit. The following text is from Abide in Christ, a modernized version of The True Vine adapted by Bo Stevens. If you are a leader in ministry/missions/the church in any way, I encourage you to read and meditate on Andrew Murray's take on the work you do. I hope that after reading this you feel as I did - encouraged to pursue Him even more and privileged that He chooses to work through me despite how often I fail Him.

John 15:16 "I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should [abide]."

Some fruits will not keep. One sort of pears or apples must be used right away. Another kind can be saved until next year. In Christian work some fruit doesn't last. There may be plenty that seems to please and edify but leaves no permanent impact on the world or the condition of the church. On the other hand, there is work that leaves its imprint for generations or for eternity. In it the power of God makes itself lastingly felt. That is the fruit Paul spoke about when he described two styles of ministry: "My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God" (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). The more of man with his wisdom and power, the less of stability; the more of God's Spirit, the more of faith standing in God's power.

Fruit reveals the nature of the tree from which it comes. What, then is the secret of bearing fruit that abides? As our life abides in Christ and as we abide in Him, the fruit we bear will last. The more we allow all that is of human will and effort to be pruned away by the hand of the divine Vinedresser and the more intensely we withdraw from worldly cares so that God can work in us by His Spirit, the more concertedly we abide in Christ, and the more our fruit will abide.

This is a staggering thought! He chose you and appointed you to bear fruit and that your fruit should last. He never intended one of His branches to produce fruit that would not abide. The deeper I enter the purpose of His electing grace, the surer my confidence will become; yes, I produce fruit that will last for all eternity. When I enter this purpose of His electing love, what will occur? I will realize more and more what the link is between the purpose from eternity and the fruit to eternity. The link is the abiding in Him. Now the purpose is His; He will bring it to fruition. The fruit is His; He will bring it forth. The abiding is His; He will maintain it.

If you profess to be a Christian worker, stop for a moment. Ask yourself, Am I leaving a mark for eternity on those around me? My dear sister or brother, it is not your preaching or teaching, your strength of will or power to influence that will make a difference. All depends on your living the truly branchlike life of abiding, a life of close and unbroken fellowship with Christ. It is the branch who abides in Him that brings forth much fruit, fruit that abides.

How would you describe the eternal impact the Lord is making through your life on those He has placed around you?

The Right Key

Since returning from Jamaica, it's been a challenge getting back into the swing of things. It's amazing that 10 days can really interrupt habits. Occasionally, I will clean houses to help supplement our income. Last Friday, I was excited to get an early start - I know it sounds absurd, but cleaning relaxes me. So I left the house extra early so I could get started right at nine. As I pull into the driveway I realize I don't have their house key. Hoping they might still be home I get out of the car and knock - with no answer. I walk around to the back and make sure the back door is locked, and of course it is. So I get back into my car and begin the drive back home to get the key. Over the next hour home and back I began to think about a lot of things. Like the fact that I had lots of key with me: my car key and my husband's car key, a couple of other house keys. But no matter how many keys I happen to have with me at the time, I don't have the right key.

I got to thinking that this key business is kind of like life. We are presented with a lot of "keys," but the truth is that there is only one Key. Jesus tells us in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." One day we will all stand before God and He is not going to be concerned with all the "keys" you have with you - how successful you are or how much money you have in your bank account, how many service projects you did or church services you attended, etc. He is only going to be looking for Jesus. Romans 10:13 tells us, "For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." There's nothing you can do except call on Jesus. Make sure you have the right Key.

Impatient

After a wonderful week of service in Jamaica, I was scheduled to begin flying home on Saturday, January 5. I don't know if you're like me but once I am headed home, I am ready to be there already. So I began my trek from Montego Bay to Atlanta. Once I arrived in Atlanta I had a six hour layover - leaving Atlanta for Norfolk at 9:45 and arriving home at 11:25. Being eager to get home as soon as I could, I began checking for earlier flights and what luck! I found one leaving at 4:20, just a few minutes away. I didn't even mind paying the extra $50 it cost to move my flight up.

I boarded the flight home excitedly, knowing that I would see my hubby sooner than expected. Now, you know things didn't go according to plan, or I wouldn't be writing about it. As we were pulling out of the gate, the pilots became aware of a problem with the air conditioning unit; it wouldn't turn off. Apparently, the reason the A/C cuts off as planes begin to leave is because the engine has to have a certain amount of pressure to start. With the A/C not cutting off, the engine didn't have the required pressure. So, we pulled back into the gate and waited for maintenance crews to fix the issue. While they were fixing the A/C that wouldn't turn off, they discover that there were some latches on the outside of the plane that needed to be replaced as well. 2 hours later, the pilot was telling us that both problems were fixed and we would be departing in about another 20 minutes (which was actually like another 40, but who was counting?)

Maybe you've been where I was: ready to be home already and see your spouse because you've been away for 10 days. If you have, then you can relate to the fact that every minute I sat on that plane waiting to depart, I became more and more irritated and impatient. Knowing that these repairs were for my safety did not make me more understanding - I just wanted to be home.

As I sat there festering, I began to think about the week I had just experienced and how God moved in great and mighty ways; and here I was sitting unchanged, like it had never happened. So I began to think of instances in the Bible where Jesus was irritated. That was easy. I could think of countless times where Jesus was irritated, from the disciples lack of faith to the money changers in the temple. But when I began to search for a time when Jesus was impatient, I came up short. Surely, He must have experienced this emotion because He was fully human. I started to look for references to things that were important to Him and then I came across the telling of Lazarus' death and resurrection in John 11.

Understand that the text never says, "Jesus was highly impatient," but if I were to place myself in His shoes in this story, I would be feeling a bit impatient. Picture it: your best friend is dying and by the time you arrive he has already been dead four days. People around you are saying insensitive things and then once you raise him from the dead, some plot to kill him again! I'm feeling a bit impatient and irritated just reading about it. That must have been a long journey to Bethany for Jesus. Of course, He knew that Lazarus was going to die before He arrived, why else would He have waited another two days before traveling there. But just because Jesus understood the purpose was to glorify God, doesn't mean He was exempt from the feelings that went along with Lazarus' death. We even see Jesus weeping before He raises him from the dead. Jesus is fully human and that means He has the same emotions we do.

Then, I began to think of the story from Mary and Martha's perspective (the sisters of Lazarus.) I can imagine their impatience as well. They send word to Jesus that Lazarus is on his death bed and instead of coming right away, Jesus waits another two days to leave. Can you imagine their feelings over those few days before Jesus' arrival? I'll bet they were feeling very impatient. "Where is He? My brother is dying! Jesus isn't going to make it in time!"


John 11 doesn't tell us what Jesus did while He was delaying and on His journey to Bethany, but I'm sure He did much of the same things He always did. I'll bet He preformed miracles, healed people, and was the same loving person He always was. If He had rushed away as soon as He got the news about Lazarus, many of those people may not have experienced Him.

Mary and Martha may have never know the reason for Jesus' delay, and I may never know the reason behind my flight being delayed, but both stories teach us that our time is not God's timing. He sees the big picture, and we don't have to have all the details to know that He is sovereign and His purposes are good. Perhaps my flight delay kept TJ from being in a car accident, or maybe someone was sharing Christ with another person on my flight and needed the extra time. I don't need to know the reason to know that God was over the situation.

Thinking through this on the plane helped to ease my irritation and impatience. Of course, I still wanted to be home immediately, but it was a great reminder that God is over all things, including my delayed flight. Hopefully the next time I am feeling impatient I will remember this lesson and focus on how the situation is going to bring God glory instead of my own timeline.

Jamaica Update

This past week serving in Jamaica has been tremendous. I was able to share life with people I may have never known otherwise. I don't think I'll ever grow tired of learning what it means to love others as Christ loves me. This week I learned that sometimes loving others is in the small things, like bandaging someone's cut or helping them with bug bites. :-) Or sharing a hug with a child. I am so privileged to not only be able to serve but to enable others to do the same thing. There's something so cool about watching someone else share the love of Christ with a stranger.

I was reminded that all people are in need of Jesus' free gift of salvation and grace: rich or poor, old or young. Sin does not discriminate. It doesn't just infect a certain type of person. We are all sinners in need of a Savior. Fortunately, our Savior doesn't discriminate either. John 3:16 doesn't say, "For God so loved the poor..." or "For God so loved the perfect..." it says "For God so loved the world..." Wow. I needed that reminder. He is eternally worthy of praise.

This week we had a team of a little over 60 come and serve with us. In the mornings there was VBS and in the afternoons the team split up into smaller groups and did some construction. My group worked at Denham Town Baptist Church in Kingston helping the church lay the foundation for an addition to their facility. It was hard work. The students did excellent work and even impressed the Jamaican contractors! I am so pleased to have been able to get to know them and serve beside them. I hope they will come back again next year. Shout out to Trinity Church!

Thank you all for your prayer this week. Keep them coming! Oh, and happy new year!

Tired of Doing It All Myself - Maybe You Can Relate?

So I have a confession to make: until today I hadn't spent any time alone with God since Monday. I mean, I went to church Wednesday & posted the Facebook devos for my students, but I hadn't spent any intimate time with Him alone since Monday, & I knew it was my own fault. Many times each day I had opportunities to stop & spend some time with Him, but I had made excuses & opted to spend my time doing something else. Anyway, as many of you know I am taking the GRE tomorrow morning & have been stressing about it for the past few days. I allowed this test to distract me from my TAWG (Time Alone With God). Plus, I have been in over-drive trying to figure out how I'm going to raise support for myself through Praying Pelican Missions, as well as for India & very soon South Africa.

Tonight, after fundraising at Barnes & Noble & then coming home to make more ornaments for my fundraiser, I sat down to squeeze a bit more studying in & thought to myself, "You need to stop & talk to the Lord." I began by apologizing for putting Him off & making excuses. I'm so glad Jesus makes up for all of my shortcomings. I told Him that I will study more tonight, but that first I am going to spend some time with Him.

I'm currently going through Purpose Driven Life with one of my best friends, but (obviously) have been struggling to read it everyday, even though it is a terrific devo & I always get a lot out of each devotion. Today is day 9 for me & the title is "What Makes God Smile?" & the main point was that God smiles when I trust Him. Talk about apropos! That couldn't be more relevant for me today. Isn't that why I'm stressing so much? Because I'm not trusting Him; I'm trusting me & trying to do it all myself. Sure, I need to put the studying in to get the high score, & I must do my part to raise the funds, but at the end of it all He is the one I must trust to provide. To be honest, I get tired of trying to do it all myself. So why do I keep giving Him my worries & then taking them right back?!

It gets better. As if the entire entry wasn't conviction enough that I've been going about things all wrong, it posses a question at the conclusion: Since God knows what is best, in what areas of my life do I need to trust Him most? Way to bolster the point. Of course, I need to trust Him in all things, but especially in those areas that I tend to try to hold on to myself & control. Areas like finances & fundraising. Why, if it's so obvious that I need to trust Him with these things, is it so arduous then?!

God certainly wasn't trying to dissemble His message to me tonight. "Trust Me!" Well God, I heard you tonight. Thank you for moving me to listen.

Maybe you're right where I am. Maybe you need to take a breath & spend some time listening to Him. Pleasing God is the ultimate purpose of our lives, so how do we make Him smile? Psalm 147:11 says, "The Lord is pleased with those who worship Him & trust His love." God smiles when we trust Him. :-)

Missions Fundraiser

Looking for a unique gift this season that also helps missions? I hand painted this ornament as a way to help you remember to pray for me and all missionaries around the globe. Ornaments are $10 and all proceeds go to helping me stay in the field year-round. I only have a limited amount, so if you'd like one let me know soon! Thanks for your support.

Praying Pelican Missions

The Christmas season is upon us! Another year gone by too quickly. As I reflect on this past year, I am humbled by all the things the Lord has used Tj and I to accomplish. We would like to take a moment to thank you for your continued prayer for us as we diligently seek the Lord's path for our lives.

As many of you know, I have recently taken up a position as a full-time missionary through Praying Pelican Missions, which is based in Minnesota, although we have missionaries like myself living all over the US and abroad. Praying Pelican Missions (PPM) began in 2003 serving two communities in Belize. We expanded to Jamaica in 2007, and now annually serve more than 100 communities between the two countries, making us the largest provider of mission trips to Belize and Jamaica in the US. We also serve in hundreds of communities all around the world, including locations in Mexico, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic  Costa Rica, South Africa and parts of the USA.

You may be wondering about the name Praying Pelican Missions. The significance of the name is that pelicans are common in Central America and the Caribbean, and the founders wanted a fun name to make a memorable logo out of which would help spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Also noteworthy is that the pelican is an ancient symbol of Christian sacrifice. The legend states that a mother pelican, in times when food was scarce, would sacrifice her life by pecking herself to feed her baby. Thus, as the mother pelican would give her life for her child, so did God give His Son’s life for us, that we may have eternal life. What an amazing analogy!

As a full-time missionary with PPM, my job is to connect with churches here in my area and across the US and help them get connected and on to the mission field. I am responsible for planning all the details of their  trips, from ministry sites, to meals, to transportation in country. I also get to lead these groups on the mission field! My country for 2013 is Jamaica, which I couldn't be more excited about since I will be working with some of the same people I was with in July.

There is one more aspect to my job that is a bit more challenging. I am a fully self-supported missionary, which means that my support comes entirely from people like you.  It is my desire to connect with people who are interested in joining me in supporting the ministry of Praying Pelican Missions. Donating is easy, tax deductible, and will be confirmed with a receipt from Praying Pelican Missions. There are two main ways to give. You can visit PrayingPelicanMissions.org/donate (or right here on my blog incidentally!) and make a one-time donation or set your account up for monthly giving by clicking on the appropriate links beside my name. You can also make donations by check by following the detailed instructions on the donation page.

Most importantly, I need individuals who will agree to partner with me in prayer. If you are interested in being a Prayer Warrior on my behalf, let me know and I have a prayer card I would like to send to you, and periodic emails to keep you updated on what prayer needs we have in Jamaica and Praying Pelican Missions. The battle for souls is fought on our knees. 

Please prayerfully consider partnering with me in my ministry with PPM. You can also support us by coming with us. If you are interested in how you can join myself on the mission field and the many ways that God is working through PPM, I'd love to meet with you to tell you more.

My first trip to Jamaica on mission begins Dec 25-Jan 5. We have 3 teams (73 individuals) coming to minister during their Christmas break! Please continue to follow my blog to stay up to date with what's going on in my missionary adventures!

Thank you for your support and prayers!!