Today is my birthday and needless to say, my 30th year has been an incredible one in many ways.  This year has been full of endings and beginnings alike.  Janna and I ended our journey in the Big city and began a very new and refreshing one here on the Island.  That same move meant (in some ways) to our journey with Epic Ministries and the beginning of what has become our beloved home church here in Comox.  In both an exciting and frightening way, this year has brought major changes to my life as a pastor.  In a sense, a journey has ended for me in this area of my life.  That said, my eyes are being opened daily to the powerful and life changing reality of God's call over me being lived out in everyday life.

My life has been altered in core ways this past year.  When I think about the breadth and impact of this change it leaves me breathless.  To think that it was during my 30th birthday party last summer that I looked around at all the friends God had added to my life… took stock of all he'd done in Janna and I in the few short years prior… and thought "I can't believe He's moving us on, this is just so good."  A year later, and I could never put on paper the multitude of ways that Jesus has lead me, spoke to me, restored me, provided for me, opened my understanding, and more than anything… loved me. 

Ironically, while God has been bringing me such incredible life here on Earth, He also chose to bring full life to my sister in Heaven. Jayda's death touched deep places in me, and has sobered me incredibly. That said I truly believe that her legacy coupled with our final moments together (both in life and death) have brought about deep restoration in my life. They have also helped to finish and bring deep understanding to many of the things God started in my heart a year ago when we started this very new season of life.

Paul's words in II Corinthians 5:17 have never been as real for me as they are now.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

What a year!  I can truly say I will never be the same.  My faith for today is a new and increasing one, and my hope for tomorrow has become far more sure and honest.  My identity is being found more and more in Christ, and as I come to that place I am finding rest and peace like I've never known.  He has shown me so clearly who I am as He's revealed to me how He sees me.  I've come to real clarity as it relates to my dreams and His call over my life.  He's a Big God, and this year has humbled me as I've realized that more.  Surrender has taken on new meaning, and this past year has restored in me a reckless abandon that hasn't been there since I was 8 or 9 years old.

Restoration is a promise that God is not slow to act on, and is completely able to bring about. The word restoration was prophesied over my life, by a dear friend, almost exactly 3 years ago. Since then, I've seen God's gentle hand bringing it about in my life one day at a time. All I can say is Praise Him! With everything that you are, Praise Him! With songs, paintings, poems, dances, and all other expressions of the heart…. around shared meals and in quiet moments of prayer… in seasons of work, and days of rest… in marriage, the birth of a child, and death… in times of blessing and of loss…. in both joy and sorrow…. Praise Him!

Hosesa 6 (*vs 1&2)