A Year in Review

I am amazed at how awesome the christian life is. It really is the most amazing adventure. We can be going in one direction completely content, and then with the gentle whisper of God's voice, everything changes. Allison and I experienced this excitement in our decision to attend the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. We were loving life, enjoying our time at JH Ranch, and planning our future when God impressed upon us to move to California and attend Bethel's school.

We did not necessarily know why we were attending. We knew Bethel believed that miracles are for today and that miracles should be the "normal" christian life but we did not know His exact purposes for us in this decision. We came with excitement and out of obedience. We prayed for this year Romans 12:1, that the Lord would renew our minds to know His good will.

As we have witnessed, Bethel attracts people from around the world because they see the supernatural on a regular basis. However, upon people arriving, they discover Bethel's core message is actually the love of God and His goodness which overflows into the supernatural. It seems so elementary to be learning about the love of God and His goodness but yet it has transformed our lives.

We discovered that it is God's kindness, not His judgement that leads people to repentance. He isn't angry at us or disappointed in us but He loves to encourage people and complement their strengths. His love truly knows no end in that He will send someone half-way across the world to pray for one of His children's needs. He is a good Dad.

Perhaps these revelations are not new under the sun, but this revelation is powerful and transformational when it goes from your head to your heart. For Allison and me, we have begun to realize what it means to be an adopted child of God, to co-reign with Christ, to be seated in the heavenly places. We are princes and princesses.

What does this mean? This means we don't have to worry about our significance because we know who we are, and this frees us to help others. We don't have to worry about finances because our Father owns everything. We have the privilege of honoring people, not based on whether they are deserving or not, but because we are honorable. And as a result of discovering our identity in Christ, we are living our dreams.

We have realized we are friends with Christ, and therefore get to co-labor with Him. Just as we desire to help Him with His goals, He likes to help us reach ours. As a result, Allison and I have gotten to spend this entire year growing together in our marriage. I am amazed when I reflect on the fact that the Lord actually impressed upon us to take a year off from work to pursue after Him and to love one another. How awesome it has been for Allison and me to read the same devotional books, read the same passages in the Bible together, and grow together spiritually in this first year of marriage. He knows what it is best for us and He also desires to bless us. Oh, how awesome it is when we are obedient. He is a good God, in a good mood.