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Written by Katie Forbess, Board President of Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Missouri

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (Jn 15:16 NIV)

Iron Rose Sister Ministries actively does things to help women by equipping and encouraging them to grow closer to God and one another, bearing fruit that will last, and hearing their prayers along the way.

Last year, the theme of “Practice like a Wise Woman” shook the ministry and blessed it in ways never imagined. Thankfully, we trusted and sought wisdom, and we truly moved in the ways we felt God calling us. Not perfectly, but faithfully. 

That Godly wisdom brought us this year’s theme of “Bear Fruit,” which will touch many parts of our lives and relationships. Personally, I have come to define bearing fruit as this: When I am living in such a way that I am connected to God, like a healthy vine to the branches, and I allow God to work through me, fruit is produced.

While remaining in the love of God, I believe part of bearing fruit is the fruit of the Spirit in me, and another part is the sharing of the truth of the gospel of Christ to someone in a way that they become capable of reproducing that gospel themselves. And all future fruit will go on to do the same. The fruit of more disciples will last long past my time here on earth, and long past the people who know me or will even know about me. This fruit is eternal, so it will last in heaven. In the end, I believe we will all feel connected to the same Vine and the same roots and truly be one in Christ. 

On a personal level, as I look at this year, I see there will be a lot of changes, such as a son who will be graduating and going to college, a daughter who could be engaged by the end of the year, and another daughter who plans to start driving by the end of the month. There are always changes. There will be ups and downs. Joys and sorrows. The real question is: Will I bear fruit that lasts during these times?

I’m reminded of Abraham, whom God told that his family would be as numerous as the stars. It took a few failed attempts on Abraham's part and a baby born many generations later to completely fulfill that promise. That baby grew up to make disciples, died for the sins of the world, and then arose, sending all His disciples to go out and make disciples.

The fruit that God is asking me to bear is only possible through this blessing of Abraham’s descendent, Jesus Christ. Abraham could never have known how eternal his fruit would be. The fruit we bear is under God’s control, as well. I may never truly understand what will happen with the fruit He has called me to bear. What a blessing to be part of something so much bigger!

How can we bear fruit that will last during this time in our lives?

How can we trust God with the eternal impact of the fruit we will bear in His name?

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Written by Beliz Kocev, Brazil Coordinator with Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 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. (Jn 15:4-5 NIV)

When I first became a Christian, I was under the impression that some things were spiritual and others weren't. In other words, I thought that God was involved and interested in some parts of my life, but that there was no room for God in the other areas, and He wasn't interested in them anyway.

My spiritual life seemed to have nothing to do with the rudeness I directed at my mother or the clothes I chose to wear to class. But guess what? It did! And by not involving God in my choices and actions, I wasn't bearing fruit as I could have been. I was a branch that thought it could connect and disconnect from the vine as it pleased. In other words, I was a branch about to die at any moment.

...so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. (Col 1:10)

It was only when I understood that everything is spiritual, and that God must be involved in all areas of my life, that I was able to begin bearing fruit along the way wherever I went. God is interested in everything that is part of who I am, from big decisions like where to live, what profession to choose, how to spend my salary, to things that seem small: how I treat strangers, how I react to unexpected situations...

And in each of these scenarios, there is an opportunity to please God in everything, bearing fruit along the way.

A plant that is not healthy cannot bear fruit. A branch that does not receive nutrients from the tree dies. We, as branches connected to the true Vine, being nourished by the Word, are renewed, and we grow. And it is impossible to have the presence of God through the Holy Spirit without change. The conversion of our hearts produces the transformation of our actions and words as fruit: "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Mt 3:8).

The fruit of our repentance is a powerful testimony that leads to one of the most incredible parts of bearing fruit—multiplication. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19).

I want to encourage you to remember that everything is spiritual, to nourish yourself with the Word, and to reflect on the impact your actions have on the people around you (whatever they may be and in any environment)! I want to encourage you to bear fruit along the way, wherever you go—so that the fruit of the transformation of your heart will be seen and heard by everyone. And may God's will always guide your choices.

May we be “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither” (Ps 1:3).