journey of trust

It seems that the journey of trusting God is just that...a continual journey. Over the last 3 years we have had to trust God on many occasions. Actually, continually! Prior to moving it was about trusting that God was speaking to us and giving us clear direction to move - and that he would provide for us along the way. Since we've been here we have not had a regular income to live off, however God has provided for us every step of the way. As much as I would like it, he has not given us a million dollars and said 'go for it', instead we have had to trust that every week he would provide for all our needs. I can say that we have never gone without the things we need. He has even provided some of the things we've wanted! Bill Johnson talks about how you have too much money when it causes you to stop trusting God.
Our trip to Australia was also a step of faith. We did not necessarily have the funds to make the trip however we knew it was time and that God wanted us to go. Again he provided above and beyond our needs to make that trip happen.
Dave has recently been offered a job with Bethel Church as a Pastor within the school of ministry that he just completed. Just like every year so far, we have had to make the trip out of the USA to Canada in order to renew or change our visa. This year it's a little different in that we are changing our visa to a Religious Workers visa. We had to leave the US by the 20th June so we were not out of status. This meant taking a 'forced' holiday to Canada without any confirmation from the US Government that it was ok for Bethel to employ Dave.
On our journey to Canada we have had to trust that God would provide and that he would go before us and open the way for us. And we have seen just that happen!  We have had both financial provision and amazing accommodation open up for us.  For every location we have been we have either had a great deal on a hotel, or a day or two before our arrival friends have lined up a place for us to stay. We have been so so blessed to say the least! We have been able to take my Dad to places he's never seen before - and new places for us to see too.
Our visa appointment is to be in Calgary, Canada. However, we arrived in Calgary still without the confirmation that Dave could be employed. We needed this confirmation number in order to fill out other visa forms and book an appointment. Finally last night the confirmation came through. It was never a matter of doubting that we would get it (that part is now easy to trust after being on this journey for 3 years), but a matter of trusting that God had the timing of it all worked out. Still not my timing I can tell you!
Even now as I sit in Calgary, Canada I am still having to trust that God will provide and that God goes before us and opens the way for us. Currently our appointment is not until August 14. I totally trust that God will give us an appointment sooner than that and we will be able to get back home so Dave can start work (and so the kids can have some normality back). My struggle is still with seeing the timing work out just the way I would like it (yes, a little bit of a control thing ;) ). My impatience wants the appointment today, so we can get going on the road home by mid next week (2 days of processing time before you can collect your visa - and we have Canada Day and July 4th public holidays in the midst of it all). Now, I am learning (trying) to rest in God. Not to worry, not to try and make it happen in my timing, but rest. Rest knowing that God is in control, that he has gone before us and made the way clear. Rest in his goodness and faithfulness. Rest knowing that God is a happy God who wants us to succeed. Rest in his presence and laugh, watching it all unfold before me. :) Let the resting and unfolding continue!

Our New Home Group - beginnings of revival!

Recently I was in a 3rd year class when a friend of mine named Cris Kerr came up to me and said "Dave you and Taff should run a home group. Would you be interested in running a home group?" It felt like it was a real 'God moment' and I said "We have just been thinking about getting involved in one, and how much we missed our old home group." We had been processing how much we needed a 'community' with Bethel church to - 'do life with', so I said "Yes lets do it!" Together with Cris and Rose (another amazing friend) we began a group that is more than your normal home group :).

The vision of our group is to build community, to experience God's presence and goodness and reach the lost. Every week is different and we follow Holy Spirit each week to see what he wants to do. The group is continually growing with more and more new people coming each week. It has been incredible to watch God allow us to minister into the lives of people from all around the world - pastors, night club owners, neighbors, friends, Bethel students, unsaved - work colleagues etc. and He has radically moved in all of their lives. We are seeing more and more non-believers come and experience the presence of God and have their gold called out!

One highlight recently was having one of our leaders work colleagues coming to encounter God. That night Zeke had stayed up and wanted a 'Fire Tunnel' (a fun way to pray - where you make two lines, and pray for people as they walk through) So we started a fire tunnel and this new girl walked through with everyone else. Later that night she told her friend (who had brought her) how half way through she began to 'feel dizzy' as the presence of God came onto her! It was so encouraging to see this girl getting touched by God in her body, because she had no prior knowledge or expectation of what fire tunnels were about, it was a legitimate encounter. After this our group prophecied over her and she was greatly impacted. Since coming, she has been encountering the 'dizzy presence of Jesus' at work and at home. She now is having full on conversations with Jesus regularly!

Another home group highlight for Taff and I, was when our neighbors came over for prayer.

After recent conversations with them, we'd begun to sense God was moving in their lives. So we invited them to come to home group for 'prayer'. They said "We'd love to" and they came over with their two kids. Our group of amazing leaders gathered around and began to prophecy life over them. It was incredible the accuracy and consistency of what God was 'calling out' in the whole families lives. Their girls were 'open mouthed' saying "How do you know?" You could see the parents affirming what what said over them also. After about 40minutes of prophecy, their whole family just soaked in the presence of God, as Taff played worship. It was beautiful seeing God pour back into this outrageously generous family - whom we love.

The next few days we heard stories (from our neighbors) about how one of the girls had went to her friends house and said "I went to this bible group and they did magic on me!" I was building our playground with their youngest daughter and she said to me "Dave, you know that bible group we went to the other night, those people knew all about me! They knew my personality!" I told her that God knows everything about all of us and that He showed the people those things about her. I also told her that she could begin to hear messages from God for her loved ones. You could see her eyes light up.

Since then there has been a dramatic shift in the family lives. I have seen happiness and hope coming into their eyes like never before. Not only have our conversations changed, but we have began to pray more together with them, and now they have begun to talk about their dreams and about 'believing God' again! Even today someone began to repay a debt owed to them of $1000! The husband also met with his brother and sister in law (who were at the end of their rope with life) and begun to lead them to God! He said "I don't know how, But God is going to come through for you! You have to come to Dave and Taff's home group and have them pray for you!" Their family came the following week. Again our home group prophesied and loved on them and called out their gold. The family was greatly impacted. Things were called out in the husband that he hadn't even told his wife. Secret dreams for their life were called out. The family have had conversations with beauticians, work colleagues, family and us about the impact it had on their lives. We are excited to see their journey with God through this.

Life is so amazing when living in a community of people that encourage and empower you to be who God created you to be. We are forever grateful to God for the amazing people he has put in our lives.