Abide in The Vine.

"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." John 15:5.
Last night as i was getting ready for bed my phone rang. It was my Mother. When i answered the phone i knew something was weighing heavy on her. So i asked her what was up. She then proceeded to to tell me what was troubling her thoughts. (This blog is NOT a pity party its about victory!)
I live in Frankfort, my family lives in my home town of Bardstown. There is a lot going on with my family in Bardstown. My sister has a broken leg, brother has breathing problems, dad has 2 tumors, and what i spoke with my Mom about last night! It is a lot.
Last night while talking to Mom i wanted to plan a trip to Bardstown, this week end, or next week, to be with my family and pray for them. But that would end in failure. Because I must abide in the vine! If i leave the vine i can do nothing. I am not hear to whine about what the devil is TRYING to do my family. I am here to tell him to get off my family! As i abide in Jesus and stay rooted and grounded in Him i can NOT loose, i can NOT be defeated! But if i go running off to my home town trying to help others with out considering my own spiritual well being, then i can do nothing. If Jesus tells me to back to Bardstown, and help them then I am abiding in the vine. Jesus did not tell me to do that. The attack on my family is design by satan to get me off course. I am intensely working on my person spiritual growth, I am can not leave that and go running off to help others when i my self needs help! Jesus asked, "can the blind lead the blind?"
I love my family and many of you may think that I am being cold and cruel by not comforting my family during there hardships. But the truth is i am more affective in comforting my family by being strong and not bowing to the attack of the devil. My ability to comfort them is only as good as my connection to the vine. If i disconnect my self from the vine and go off I will wither and die. (Not physical death, but spiritual, check genesis 2 and 3) My Faith is strong and effective to help my family, as i seek first the Kingdom of God.
I would encourage anyone who is having problems in life, not to let thous problems dictate what they are going to do. Rather stay focused on what God has called you to do. Many times the devil will bate the hook of destruction with something or someone dear to us. The devil can not kill this person as long as you pray and stand on the promises of God, and stay focused on the call. If the devil can get you to act out of fear then he has won. The moment you act in fear and not in Faith, the devil has disconnected you from the vine. You are now connected to him by fear. If I would have ran off to Bardstown i would have been acting in fear and not in Faith, i would have been disconnected from the vine. Jesus said "...without Me you can do nothing." Stay connected to the vine. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Act in Faith not in fear.