Weekend at the Firs

It was a powerful and beautiful weekend at the Firs Chalet near the Mt. Baker ski area. I was invited to speak to a group of 20-30s from my old church, University Presbyterian (Seattle). And I got to share the things I am most excited about in my relationship with God in the past eight years - receiving our identity as beloved daughters and sons of our Father (apart from any performance on our part); receiving empowerment from the Holy Spirit to move in supernatural ministry; and learning to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. It was a stretch for a large number - actually the most difficult thing is to receive our identity from the Father. The most exciting thing for me was that it wasn't simply about trying to receive/believe a teaching - we had opportunities after each teaching to invite God - Father, Spirit, Son - to come minister to people. While the teaching created a context of understanding, it is the Presence of God that brings life, and it is beautiful to watch it happen.

It was also a tremendous gift for Susan and me to be received as co-ministers and to have such rich opportunities to minister to people together and one-on-one.

The Beautiful Spirit of Adoption

One of the things I hear a lot around here is that we are sons and daughters of the King. Paul tells us in Romans 8:15-16 - The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again, rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirits that we are children of God.

Our head coffee roaster is a former heroin addict, meth cook, dealer and white supremacist. One of the young guys he works in our coffee project with is a hispanic gang leader. It is a work of supernatural grace to see the two of them together as the formerly hate-filled roaster is now filled with the love of the Father and speaks sonship into the gangster. This young Latino has heard his whole life that he is a piece of crap and he has believed it. There have been months and years of speaking and showing the scandalous love of the Father in Jesus into his life. He would say all sorts of negative things about his situation and prospects, and our roaster would say, "You need to stop that stuff from coming out of your mouth. You are the son of the King." Slowly, he is believing it and it is transforming his life.

Later in Romans 12, Paul will say that we are to no longer be conformed to the pattern of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Changing the way we think and bringing our internal dialogue into agreement with what the Father says about us is what transforms us and always precedes true transformation of "behavior."

It is amazing to sit with them in my office and pray together as we bring our needs to our Father who protects and provides for His kids. If you saw them together you might not think anything about it, but knowing where they have come from, our little gathering is nothing short of miraculous.