Dear reader,
I hope you are well, it’s been about a week since we’ve last talked, I’m sure you’re probably wondering what I’ve been up to. Please, grab a seat and I will explain it all to you as best as I can.
Most of you know I have now been in the USA for a little over a week now, and I have actually spent a lot of time just sitting with the Lord.
I’m not kidding. We’ve had a lot to talk about.
When I first learned of my return I asked God if He would give me a week of rest, time that I could use to be still with Him, and seek out wisdom and guidance from my close friends and mentors in my life.
He blessed me with just that.
He’s made it clear to me that He’s been refining me this week. For a long while actually.
Every twist and turn that’s happened in my story.
Pieces of Mitchell Vine have been crumbling off day in and out. He’s been dying slowly each day.
Looking back, it’s been an amazing chapter to be a part of. Yet that brings me to today.
February 15th
I’m quite sure you have a question on your lips just as I do…
What now?
Where do I go from here?
What’s the plan, Stan?
I’m going to choose to ignore that last question, seeing how my name is not Stan.
I had a very good conversation this past week (more than I can count actually) but this person described this image of standing in front of a curtain. It’s so close it brushes up against your nose, you can hear what’s on the other side, smell it even. But you have no clue what it looks like on the other side.
You think you might know, you might have the best guess in the world. But still, until you see what’s on the other side you’re filled with excitement about what is waiting for you on the other side of the curtain.
That’s me to a tee.
Which I’m not entirely upset about to be very honest with you.
One of my dear mentors in life encouraged me a good 5 years ago or so to start praying a prayer that looks like this.
“God, my yes is on the table. Take it. Use it however you will. I trust you.”
When I hit that point of complete surrender with God He really started to rock my world. I lost all control. He could do anything He wanted.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
He’s been in the habit of using “24 Hour Course Correction” as His favorite method of fixing my eyes back on Him when I may have gone too far in one direction, or the next step requires a bigger leap of faith than usual.
I do want to encourage you, challenge you even, ask God if you are fully prepared and willing for a “24 Hour Course Correction”. If so, amazing, just understand when He has full reign over your life, He can and will do crazy-fantastic things.
If you aren’t there, I’d say you’re probably a little too comfortable with God. He does what He does, but He doesn’t have much of a say in my life except for what happens on a Sunday. Which is very dangerous. Sit with Him and ask God the Father where you stand. Be ready for His answer.
Now, some of you may have noticed I avoided the question “what now?” I apologize, I will go back to answer it now.
Today at this moment I feel led to love, serve and shepherd those around me. To live life with them and disciple them as Jesus did, point them to the Gospel every chance I get, and rinse and repeat every day till I die.
Which is exactly what I wanted to do and was doing on The World Race. God just moved me to a location that He knew I was more effective in for His glory.
What does that look like long term?
That’s a great question. I’m trusting God with that.
I can make all the plans in the world, perfectly crafted and even prayed over plans. Yet if I don’t hold them with an open hand how can I trust that God will do His work if I close off all the areas He wants to work in.
I’m sure most of you can think of a time you had a perfectly crafted plan. I bet you loved it dearly too. But then God came and beautifully broke it apart in front of your eyes. We must let The Artist do whatever He wants with His creation, and learn to love it as well.
Moving forward I particularly feel led to create, lead, and cultivate a community of house churches throughout the USA with the intentions of going out and making disciples in a broken world that very much needs Jesus. Not to bring hurting people into a church building, but to go be where the hurting people are and love and serve them as The Church.
But until God equips and provides me with the means to do so for His glory, I will continue to love and serve His people right where I’m at.
That is as much as I’ve got to go on for now. Which is more than enough. I think I’ve said it before, but I’ve learned that I trust God a lot more than I actually give Him credit for, and He will make my path straight. I’m actually not worried one bit.
Thank you all for your prayer and support. If you’d be willing to continue to do so as I run this race I would be very grateful.
If you have any questions for me or would love to connect to talk about the mission God’s laying before me please reach out to me. I would love to hear from you.
Thank you all so much.
Until next time.
-Mitchell
My email is [email protected]
My Phone is 716 251 2336
