The Town of Efficacious

As I travel in the bus along my journey I come to a new town. The town that is known for its people working diligently in the Vineyard.  In the town of Efficacious (pronounced ef-i-key-shuhs) folks here either know what they are to produce in the vineyard or they are getting prepared to work in the vineyard.   Seems to me this is an unusual place because one would think that the picking of fruit or planting of fruit would be a mindless operation.   You pick it if it ready and you plant it according to the season. That is not the case, there is a formal and informal training that must occur or the fruit will either wither when picked or not grow.  The Conductor decided this was a good place to stop on journey, with that said I’ve agreed to pause and have a conversation with the Conductor about this juncture.

So let’s rewind this story a bit so that you will know how I arrived at the town of Efficacious.  For 2 years after the divorce of my second husband I found that life was pretty much unbearable.  I found it difficult to go to work, spend time with family and friends and/or just simply be sociable.  Folks would suggest that I get out and do things, my response was, “You people don’t understand; all of my friends are married and no one wants a single woman hanging around married couples; all of my friends are his friends; I don’t have any friends of my own (that I was willing to connect with in my town); I’m tired, my drive to work is too long, I just wanted to go to work, delve into the dark side of addiction and stay in my room.  Yes that right drugs and alcohols became soothing to me.  Then one day I could not leave my room, I desperately wanted to get up and shower but that seemed ultimately a task that wasn’t going to happen, until my daughter turned up her nose after I walked away.

I would watch or more like listen to my daughter come and go and continue on with her life.  I feel the spirit convict me when she would come home to yet another day with no dinner on the stove, my door shut tight.  She would slam her door with a very loud sigh of pain.  When I could no longer continue to miss out on my daughter’s life I in utter desperation go up and tried to do something.  To no avail so after about 6 attempts I finally surrender to the fact that I could not fight the enemy alone.  I needed the help of God and folks that he would steer in my direction to help me. 

Several weeks later I find my in a Bible Study and we are reading from Philippians chapter 1 and I burst out about my inability to use my testimony to help other women just like me.  You see I had this friend who insisted I go into places to help women just like me however, something just wasn’t right.  You see I had been down that road before at some other bus stop and at this moment in time it didn’t feel right. I didn’t have that sense of humility and unconditional caring that is needed when testifying.  Sometimes we can have a gift but that gift cannot be used unless you are right and in the “right” place at the “right” time.  No one can force you to use your testimony until God gives you the green light.  Meanwhile back at Bible Study, the Lord speaks and tells me it is not time and I must do some additional work to get prepared to go into the Vineyard.  He gives me some directional scriptures and instructions to fast.  I immediately start to read the scriptures and look for meaning in them that speaks directly to me.  Sure enough the light bulb goes off and I feel a strong sense of connection to the Lord that I am truly on the right Bus. 

All the scriptures speak to not having fear, i.e. He has not given me a spirit of fear; God is my refuge; the Lord is my light and my salvation; teach me oh Lord thy ways; and finally Peace is left unto me.  This was powerful for me because not only did God tell me not to be afraid but that He has bequeathed peace to me.   I thought on the word “bequeath” for a moment and looked it up.  Sometimes we think we know the meaning of a word because we use it so much or have heard it so many times like at a will reading but do we really know the word.  So here goes the definition of “bequeath” is, “1. Leave (a personal estate or one’s body) to a person or other beneficiary by a will; 2. Pass (something) on or leave (something) to someone else.”   Imagine that God willed His “peace” to me, lil’ ‘ol me and you too!  That’s love…

Additionally all of our Bus Rides are moments that will ultimately create the testimony to be delivered to specific recipients as determined by God, but not until He has prepared you.

To be continued....