Thank you for staying on the vine! This month marks our third year for Women In Need of Empowerment. We launched our first electronic newsletter March 2008 and many of you were a part of that very first issue of W.I.N.E. Since then we are continuing to evolve, through supporting like visions and hosting outreach events.

W.I.N.E. is an organization determined to reach outward and upward. However, we are not naïve to think we can do this alone. People like you keep W.I.N.E. flowing. It takes a lot of resources, effort and time in planning the publishing of our monthly e-newsletter and events. Your support is critical to the mission of inspiring, motivating and empowering women. You can help by praying for us to remain on course, supporting ministry efforts by volunteering and through monetary donations online or by mail. Your support is humbly appreciated. I encourage you to remain watchful as there will be upcoming changes and event listings over the next few months.

The Big Picture:

I've been pondering some things ladies and there is one certainty for me, my passion is clear. Having clear focus is only a part of the process. The truth is when you are hyped and pumped to press forward somewhere along that journey you realize zeal alone is not going to keep you moving. You got to put your faith in action. It takes all of us to nurture the vision. My husband and I were having an informal family meeting and he began to share his heart for planting trees. Not literal trees, but sowing seed like we've never done before. A couple of days later I was standing in my mirror and I envisioned a vineyard with numerous vine trees. It was then I told my husband, "no my dear, we are not planting a tree, we are growing a vineyard."

But this vineyard is not just for us it is a part of the plan to become a wealth distribution center - one entity that is in a constant flow of giving and receiving, receiving and giving. Let's go back to school for a moment ladies: You know in science class we learned about the water cycle and how it is a continuous cycle ultimately providing the water we use daily. In short this process involves the "circulation" of water from the earth's surface to the atmosphere and "back" to the earth. The key words here are circulation and back. When something is circulating it is in constant flow being spread out and around. When you consider the word back, think of returning or collecting. As in the water cycle the water circulates and is eventually collected on the earth as a great resource we use daily whether for drinking, cleaning or even watering great vineyards.

Resources are a critical part to the plan. The vision you have been given needs to be properly nurtured through provision. One way is to connect in the giving process because it all comes back in some form or another. Every day we participate in some form of sowing and reaping. Be it sowing a smile in the elevator or reaping a bonus for a job well done, we engage in this process daily.

Are you sitting around in a dark hole frustrated about not being where you think you should be on your job, in ministry, in relationships, financially - well stop and do a quick evaluation of where you are sowing your time, talent, energy and money. Our perspective must change because now is the time to connect and engage the vision by sowing where you want to go and grow.

It is one thing to show your love with words but it is another thing entirely to show your love in deed. My uncle who pastors a church reminded me of this a couple of years ago when I said, "I love you," as we were parting. He looked at me and said, "I need you to show me that by coming to visit and checking in more." Tough words but he was telling the truth. I John 3:18 NLT reminds us to "not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions."

My hope is you will start today, not when you win the big one or get that raise, but today, by sowing in deed and not only with words. My hope is you will start today growing your own vineyards by sowing where you desire to go and grow in life connecting with good ground. My hope is you will grasp the concept of connecting to something other than your four and no more and realize the joy and blessing in giving beyond your need. This means becoming a part of the big picture.