Remaining and bearing fruit

By Jill in Spain -

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

-Jesus, 1 John 15:5-8 

Late July and August have allowed us the privilege to be back in the U.S. to reconnect and raise additional financial support. As I have connected with family, old friends and faithful partners in the last four weeks, I have seen the blessings of "remaining." 


Some of the possible definitions of remain are as follows....

  • continue to exist, especially after other similar or related people or things have ceased to exist.
"a cloister is all that remains of the monastery"
Similar:
continue to exist
endure
last
abide
go on
carry on
persist
hang in the air
stay around
stand
be extant
hold out
prevail
survive
live on
residual
surviving
left
left over
unused
extra
surplus
spare
superfluous
excess
in excess
in addition
lasting
enduring
continuing
persisting
lingering
abiding
long-lived
(still) existing
extant
in existence
living
lifelong
long-term
perennial
Opposite:
cease to exist
short-lived
  • stay in the place that one has been occupying.
    "her husband remained at the beach condo"
    Similar:
    stay
    stay behind
    stay put
    wait
    wait around
    linger
    be left
    hold on
    hang on
    rest
    stop
    hang around
    sojourn
    bide
    tarry
    Opposite:
    go
    depart
    leave
  • continue to possess a particular quality or fulfill a particular role.
    "he had remained alert the whole time"
    Similar:
    continue to be
    stay
    keep
    persist in being
    carry on being

   

   

    

Although I have not always been consistent, as I pick up the phone, write and email, go to visit, I have extended and continued the connection that might have otherwise ceased to exist and I see the fruit that comes from "remaining" like love, joy, celebration, shared burdens, growth, future hope.

Jesus reminds all of us to remain in Him during our time on earth, to continue to exist in Him even when our youthful image has faded, even after the children have grown up, especially when there has been sadness, disappointment, even betrayal, even when retirement comes, when perfect health ceases to exist and especially when dear ones have passed away.

I have learned about "remaining" from many of you as I see you continuing in the place that you are occupying as followers of Jesus, branches depending on the Vine, trusting in Him.

The visible reminders and benefits or FRUIT of "remaining" with my earthly friendships have reminded me of the great value of remaining in Jesus and His Word. It has also challenged me to once again take Jesus up on His Word by "asking whatever you wish", knowing that it will be done for you.

I want this upcoming season to be filled with powerful, full-of-faith prayers and significant, even surprising, answers to prayer. I will leave you with a few specific prayer requests...


Aaron boarding United flight to the U.S.

1. Please pray for safe travel back to Spain for Aaron and me.

Since our car accident in 2007, I have always been uneasy flying. Please pray for minimal turbulence. Pray for fun conversations with Aaron. Pray for the ability to just sleep through the flight.  

Also, pray for Aaron, that the Lord would bless the last 3 weeks before school starts as he reconnects with friends after being in the U.S. and as he prepares to enter 9th grade. Pray for his protection, pray for courage and boldness to be salt and light for Jesus at his school and in his activities.




       

2. Please pray for continued growth for Ruben and me as husband and wife.

Over the last year we have become more intentional about investing in our marriage so that we can work better as a team. Please pray that the Lord would continue to help us to mature individually and as a couple. 

Also, as you may know, Ruben was laid off in November of 2021 when his company closed. Please pray that the Lord would show Ruben how he should invest his time and which direction to go as he seeks employment this fall. Pray that God would open the door for just the right job in which Ruben can grow and use his talents to make an impact wherever he is.





3. Pray for a strong, connected group of married couples to attend our Agape national conference this November.


We want to build a spiritual movement of married couples who...
  • are equipped to initiate with friends, coworkers, neighbors and couples at church.
  • can create a safe atmosphere to share about the ups and downs of marriage.
  • can use their personal experiences to point others to Jesus as the source of life and hope in marriage.
One of the first steps toward this vision is identify and grow to know some key couples with a similar vision. Attending our Agape National conference in November would be a great way to spend time together, to get to know each other, to share about our personal ministry experiences and to pray together that God would reach couples with the gospel in each of their corners of the world.

Pray that God would bring 10 key couples who already have a vision of impacting their communities for Christ.



4. Pray for additional support team members by the end of 2023
God has done so much through our partnership over the last 30 years. Spaniards have come to know the Lord. Others have joined staff. Many staff have been trained to share the gospel and to make multiplying disciples. God has opened the door to many international staff to join us on the mission field in Spain. I am always so encouraged by your faithful generosity and partnership. 

Notwithstanding, with lost connections due to COVID, increasing inflation, a salary that has remained unchanged since 2000 and an aging vehicle, the time has come to reinforce my financial support so that I can once again be at 100% so that I can focus on the ministry.

During my time in N.C. God has raised up 46% of my monthly needs! So I am almost halfway there!

To read more about my current needs please read my support letter. I would love to share more about what I am doing with your church, or friends or family who have a heart for the Lord and a desire to strengthen marriages and families in other parts of the world.


Thank you for your amazing partnership to reach Spaniards for Christ. I look forward to staying in touch this year, to sharing with you about the good things that Jesus will do and to hearing from you, joyful news and prayer requests too.

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