Papa's got this...





Why?
Why we are transitioning.
Over the last few years we've had a stirring in our hearts to step into what we have been called to. Primarily our gifting is expressed through encouragement, equipping people in the practical how to's of outward focus, and encouraging leaders. After long a season of hidden-ness we have emerged knowing we must fully embrace what He has given us and begin venturing beyond the Vineyard.

What? 
We will be heading out in June.
Equip, model, train and release people into everyday missional lifestyle. 

This would include developing and encouraging people for a lifestyle of practicing naturally / supernatural expressions: hearing God's voice, prophetic insight( seeing differently / becoming aware), radically responding, healing-connected to loving well and how to develop bridges into a community.

Travel to encourage leaders, churches, organizations and missionaries, and to teach train, encourage, impart and activate outwardfocusedness.

How?
Build relationships with friends, leaders and organizations. Receive invitations, and / or travel to places of need.

Over the last few years we’ve tested the process. Leaders and missionaries in particular, really need to experience the Father’s care and love though a person.

I traveled to England, Scotland and Ireland. We also traveled to be with a few leaders and churches in the USA with the express purpose of encouraging leaders / staff with no other agenda than to spend time and bringing encouragement. 

Our investment in Brooksville FL, Vineyard Christian Church, was very encouraging both to the staff and the key leaders.

It’s amazing to watch what happens when a leader discovers they are the agenda, and then realize they are on the Fathers heart. 

I’ve also discovered that three to four days is about the right amount of time for the process to flow. 

During our time together we spend time with the leader / leaders, flow with their agenda, and allow space for encouragement. We speak on Sunday's, or during a session with staff, or have a night or two of training. (This is optional and would only step into this arena if invited.) 

A couple of years ago I traveled to Costa Rica. On the plane I received a name. I later found out he was a key leader for South America.  His countenance visibly changed as he began to tell his miracle story as we walked through his church building.

If possible I will always travel with Pattie. I will travel with an intern or a leader.


Timing is everything
We are simply taking one step at a time.


Our transitional process has been interesting.  
See my post: http://stevebowen.blogspot.com/2016/02/im-noticing-current-common-thread.html


Transition is simply moving from one place to another, or shifting from one stage in life to a different stage, or leaving one season by stepping into another season.

Transition also inherently has moments of panic, belief, encouragement, let down, disappointment and faith. In the end, it’s all about trusting a good, good Father. He is in control. He is behind the scenes working His kind intention according the counsel of His will. 

His will, according to His kind intention...
 His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.
Eph 1:9;11 NASB  

How you can help?

Please pray with us as we move forward. Pray for a smooth transition off staff, and that the transition would be well received by the church. Give thanks for unlocked doors.


Believe for resources, and for key people would emerge who would travel with us. Most internal travel would cost around $1000 per trip for two. External travel would vary, ball park would be $2500 per trip taking another person. The funding is mainly for travel expenses and for blessing the leaders with meals, putting gas in their cars, leaving a monetary gift etc. We are seeking to be a blessing, not draining people’s energy, time and finances.

If you would like to support us financially for living expenses, or for travel you can give to Steve Bowen / Eyesoutward.

or you can give direct by Paypal see link top of sidebar..

The Holy war is over


I've been pressing into personal worship for a few years. Often I'll head into the Big Room, grab my guitar and worship. Just me, no one looking, no one listening except One. It's been interesting. 

Sometimes I'm afraid to open my eyes, other times new songs bubble up, and sometimes nothing, just the discipline of leaning in. Many times my prayers, crying out, my heart exposed is given in song. Sometimes I just play softly saying nothing. 

When my notes and songs seemed to bounce off the floor... same notes, same songs, and my playing is so limited... I've continued to venture in, to seek His presence.

One phrase I've found myself repeatedly saying, "Jesus we need you as you really are. Jesus, be who you really are to us in this place. Walk among us." Interesting phrase, Jesus be who you really are to us in this place. Walk among us.

He is salvation.
He rescues and saves.
He is redemption.
He is healing.
He is provision.
He is forgiving.
He is protection.
He is wisdom.
He is comfort.
He is power.  
He is mercy.
He is grace.
He is the one who holds all things together.
He is who He is, and so much more.
He is Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

He has eyes of fire, yet there is kindness.
His voice sounds like many waters, yet He often speaks most powerfully in a whisper.
His Spirit is like a flowing river, yet often touches our lives like the early morning dew, or a soft spring rain.
When He walks among us He sees, hears and knows all things.
He is Holy... yet, He invites us into His presence.

One thing I do know, I want Him to be who He really is in my life, in my family and in my church. He is the One who gives us access to the Father's love, presence and power.

This is amazing love! A love that gave the very best. A love that willingly sacrificed His life for others. We are now sons and daughters.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life." Jesus. (John 6:47)

At the moment we believe, we receive everlasting life. The life we now live is an everlasting life that deepens as we experience the love and the knowledge of the Father through the Son, experienced by the agency of the Holy Spirit. (I know run on sentence but couldn't say it in another way.)


"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (John 17:3)
 
R.C. Sproul expresses the thought this way:
"The moment Jesus died, the instant the just one died for the unjust, the veil in the temple was torn. The presence of God became accessible to us. We now have access to His grace (*which brings peace) but even more we have access to Him. (*His presence) 

Now we can feel welcome in the very presence of a Holy God."
The Holiness of God, R.C. Sproul
*my note

This is the good news Jesus brings... we have access.

My friend Stephen Bell states, "The really good news is that the Father... now has access to us!" This truth is most amazing.

His sacrifice for our sins brings peace. It's settled. The Father, through Jesus can now joyfully draw near to us. Justice has been satisfied. Redemption is realized. Our sin has been removed. We can now boldly come. His resurrection to life, ensured our confident access into the presence of our loving Father and secured His access to us. This is good news!


To fear and yet to be unafraid is an interesting experience.

R. C. Sproul sums it up:
"But when we come, we must remember two things: (1) who He is; and (2) who we are.

 For the Christian the holy war is over; the peace has been established. 

Access to the Father is ours. But we still must tremble before our God. He is still holy."
The Holiness of God, R.C. Sproul

A few months back, I heard a whisper as I worshiped, "If this was the only thing you did, would it be enough?" I knew the question was a probing question searching deep into my heart. I paused... I want you to be enough. I don't know. I'm so driven, I strive so much. 

Months passed. I continue to go, worship... wait. 

I was in B-ham at a leaders meeting. The worship leader began to lead... the words, You are more than enough, popped on the screen. In an instant I was a puddle, I wept, no sobbed, was undone, heart exposed.

At that moment, I knew I wanted to be a worshiper the Father seeks. Jesus makes it possible.

                       


Faith... Love flows!

Faith that works through love...


 Faith: the action that pulls upon the Kingdom of heaven.

I was fishing with a few friends on a lake in Scotland. I was reading a book about the invisible Kingdom. I read a passage from the book to my fishing buddies, how faith reaches into the unseen and brings what we need into the seen. As soon as I finished reading the passage, a trout jumped out of the water, landed into the boat and flopped down to my feet. We all were suddenly aware a Kingdom principle was being supernaturally highlighted. We were stunned. I was the only one who caught a fish that day. Faith is the action that pulls what we need into the now.
 

Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees,
And looks to God alone;
Laughs at impossibilities,
And cries it shall be done.
Charles Wesley

Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him. NCV Heb 11:6
 

Faith believes that God is, and that He is good. He rewards those who seek Him. Our ultimate reward is knowing Him.

 Measures of faith:
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. Romans 12:3 NAS

Everyone has a measure of faith. All of us are given talents and treasures that are to be used / stewarded to encourage others.
 

Romans 12 lists the different gifts: serving, speaking, leading, encouraging etc., all are to be expressed according to the measure of our faith. My faith measure may be less than your faith measure. However, what is most important is that we actively use and develop the measure of faith we have been given.

The Exercise of faith: Faith grows as we exercise our faith; as we put our faith into action. To exercise our faith we speak promises, wait, stand fast, pray, worship, serve, go, love and hang on.
 

Sometimes active faith is exercised when we find ourselves in difficult situations when we actively hang on, or wait, or stand firm. 

It is not the strength of our hand holding on to God that keeps us safe.
It is the strength of God's hand holding on to us that keeps us safe and maintains our salvation. Adam Vaughn
 

I was in a hotel room in Pensacola FL. laying on the floor calling out to God. My family were in Scotland. I came to the USA to seek a non-existing promised job and I realized I had to bring my family back to the USA in three weeks with no house, no car and no job. I was hanging on, and crying out. In the midst of this emotional roller-coaster I learned a lesson.

 In a moment I realized faith is spelled trust. I understood that I wasn't hanging on to God, He was hanging on to me. My daily reading that day was about faith being spelled trust, when I decided to trust, faith entered my heart. Later that day I received a phone call from a friend and I had a job. I was able to phone my family and give them the good news of God's faithfulness.
 

Faith is spelled trust: Here is the daily reading portion that I read from Effective Faith by J.O. Sanders.

Faith is trust…We trust only those whom we know and love.

 Faith enables the believing soul to treat the future as present, and the invisible as seen. There is no such thing as faith without trust. Trust may be defined as resting on the integrity or friendship of another. To trust someone is to have confidence in; to rely on them. Trust is effortless confidence based on the character of the one in whom trust is given. True faith always issues in full trust. In relation to God, it is the trust in his Love and his trustworthiness and power, it is a calm confidence in his moral character.

Hebrews 10:23 Phillips
In this confidence (trust) let us hold on to the hope that we profess without the slightest hesitation—for he is utterly dependable.

Jesus spoke to his disciples and told them to stop being perpetually anxious and worried about their lives.

Why? Your heavenly Father knows you need all these things.


Unbelief: Jesus marveled at unbelief.

Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household." And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He wondered at their unbelief. Mark 6:4-5 NIV

Unbelief is one of the elements that robs us of our faith. The question, "In whom do I not believe?" 

With God all things are possible. That's the key phrase, with God

Without God impossible, with God all things are possible.

Great faith: Jesus marveled at great faith.

The centurion said, "Just say the word and my servant will be made whole." He understood authority; the power of a command, and understood who Jesus really was. He believed that when Jesus spoke, His word of authority would bring healing to his servant.

Jesus often asked questions, "What do you want?" He would often then say, "Be it according to your faith."

He responded to corporate faith. Four friends brought their friend into the house through the roof. Seeing their determined active faith he stated, "Rise and take up your pallet.Your (all you all's) faith has made you whole."

When Jesus faced difficult situations He removed the negative people, cleared the environment, and created an atmosphere of faith.




Faith feeds on the promises of God. Faith feeds on the pledged word of God and flourishes in the atmosphere of His presence. The presence of God is the atmosphere of faith.  J.O. Sanders Effective Faith

 Where Jesus is present, there is faith.

 Faith speaks: 

And Jesus answered saying to them, "Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Mark 11:22NIV 
 

The woman with the issue of blood had suffered much. She heard that Jesus was passing by. Her need and her faith moved her to seek Jesus; to press through the crowd and to touch the hem of His garment. As she was pushing through the crowd she was continually saying to herself, "If I can just touch the hem of his garment, if I can just touch the hem of his garment, if I can just touch the hem of his garment I will be made whole. She touched His hem and power flowed from the source of all healing. She was made whole.

Faith grows by being occupied with who God is and with what He has spoken. J.O.Sanders Effective Faith

Faith is like eyesight.

What we fix our eyes upon is what we see. We don't see our eyesight, we see the object upon which we fix our eyes upon. It's always good to look to Jesus, to turn our eyes upon Him, for He is the author and the finisher of our faith. His promise: He who began a good work in you, will complete the work He began in you.

Open my eyes help me to see,
Open my ears that I might hear,
Open my heart that I may believe,
Who you really are, who you really are.

Spontaneous Song Steve Bowen

Faith works best when God's love is flowing.

God's love for us, awakens love in us. Mike Bickle Passion for Jesus

It is the love for God which inspires our faith.
Love is faith, for love believes all things.
 

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. 
1Cor 13:13 NIV

The only thing that counts, is faith expressing itself through love. Gal 5:6 NIV

When we receive God's love for us, His love releases faith in us, so that we can express His love to others. That's why it is so important to open our hearts to His love.

We love because He first loved us. I John 4:19 NIV
 

I am a recovering non-hugger. I am now learning how to hug people into wholeness. I hug, until I feel love flow. When love flows sometimes people are restored. Almost every time people feel loved.

A couple of years ago I was able to help a homeless man. We had a great conversation. I discovered he had HIV and bone cancer. I prayed for him. I also began to speak into who he was. That he wasn't defined by HIV or cancer, but he was defined by who Jesus saw him and said him to be, a son of the Father. We both wept as I hugged Him. The hug was one of those healing hugs, where you can sense love and healing flow. It came from a source somewhere deep inside of me. The love of the Father released faith to flow into this mans heart in order to bring the emotional healing he needed. 


Faith always works best in an atmosphere filled with God's love.