>>> Epic Life

New Site Under Construction

It's been such a long time since we've updated this site. The main reason is that since arriving in New Zealand, we have become a part of the Father Heart Ministries Team. Which means that we are a part of someone else's ministry and enjoying the blessings of living like a son with the favor and freedom of what Father has already placed in that ministry. We have been going through a time of transition, of growing and changing, of going through trials but seeing positive changes deep inside. Experiencing the restoration that is the Gospel.

God has been doing so much and we are still reflecting on all that he is doing. His fatherly love, kindness, restfulness and sheer confidence is leading us.

We have just arrived back in New Zealand with Father Heart Ministries after being in Sydney to attend the Wild At Heart Boot Camp with Ransomed Heart Ministries and John Eldredge. So we are now in the process of shedding the old skin - so to speak - and creating a new skin for 2008. For EpicLife this means a new web site.

Wilson & Erica

Living According To Your Season

In the last post I mentioned that those seasons of restoration & preparation often seems to us like waiting around, and it is in those times that we often feel frustrated that more isn't happening. Well, today I was going through my journal from last year and I found this excerpt in which God spoke to me while I was in that 'desert' place, waiting around. I had a cry at God and this is what I heard. If you are in that waiting season, I hope this encourages you...

Me: "Lord, I’m freaking out here. I can’t see the future. I feel trapped in what I’m currently doing. I’m so tired here.  Lord! Hear my cries, my fears, my prayer, my heart. Lord, I feel a fight over my life right now, between work and intimacy with you. There is a contention between being with you, and running around like mad with work. Jesus, please give me your perspective on this. Please Lord, I need to hear from you!! I want to bear fruit in this lifetime, but sometimes I think I’m incapable. In your Word you say I will be blessed.  That’s fruitfulness. Jesus. I want that, I want that. I want to be fruitful in my field, but I still don’t know what that is. Lord. Please talk to me."

Jesus: (In the desert with Jesus smiling at me.) "Wilson, come over here. Look around you. This is the desert. Why are you trying to build a life here? Why are you trying to build a tent here? Don’t bother! You aren’t going to be in this place for too long. Only ONE THING is necessary during this time. Sit by my side and listen to me. Let me love you. Let me hold you. We are just passing through here.

You need to realise this: Here in the desert, Satan will come and temp you as he did to me. He will offer you the world and all its riches if you will just compromise a little. But the truth is, true life and fruitfulness is not here in the desert, it’s out there. So don’t fear. Satan will scare you into making a deal with him by telling you that this is all there is, and that you should do something about it yourself now. Don’t believe it. This is just the desert, and there is a whole other place for you ‘out there’ after this where you will truly bear fruit. So don’t believe him. He is a liar, a thief, a crook. He is trying to sell you success, when you already have it. He is trying to temp you with the world, when you are already going to inherit it. Don’t buy into it.

The reason why you are here is that I’m showing you how to live in the River in a dry place. I brought you here so that we can become friends. I am Jesus, the Way the Truth and the Life.

If something causes you to stress, and move away from me, then it is not my will. My will is for you to live like a child in my care, which means you don’t have to worry about things that are not for you to focus on. You are to only focus on the things that I do give you. You will know the difference. One yoke is light, and the other is heavy. That is how you will always know my will for you.

Believe it or not, you are exactly where I would have you. You are doubting now whether this is my voice. Do not doubt. I have a plan for you. Son, you have a deep desire to fight, and fight hard for something worthwhile. For now, I have you hidden in the desert so that you live in me.

Abide in me and ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done.

It's good to hear God's voice!

Much love from Wil & Eri

Rest and Restoration

We just re-watched a movie called "Touching the Void" - the true story of two mountain climbers who found themselves facing death, one with a broken leg, on a 20,000 feet descent in the Andes. It was an incredible tale of survival as one began to lower the other in a worm-style descent, in the middle of a blizzard. The guy with the broken leg slid over a cliff and the other partner, without being able to communicate with him, had to cut the rope. As a result the first man fell 150 feet into an icy crevasse. Crawling on his belly with no water, no food, frostbite and a badly broken leg, he still managed to climb out and down the mountain in several days.

When asked what they loved about climbing one of the men said something like, "Out here I can get away from clutter of everyday life. I like the open space - I like the risk. In some ways, it make me feel more alive."

It always amazes me what people will try to do to enter an "epic life". There is an in-built desire within all of us for freedom. Yet without an epic story, or the involvement of a Guide, the risk, the adventure, no matter how 'epic', is still not the same. You see, we were made for adventure. Some adventures are casual, such as mountain climbing, and some are crucial, such as buying a house or changing jobs. Others still are critical, such as stepping out in faith and following God towards the prophetic destiny written on our hearts.

While casual adventures such as outdoor activities are there to awaken the warrior & explorer in us, it is only this last type, the critical adventures, that will ultimately satisfy and transform us.

Lessons from a Jet Boat:

The week before we left, my brother brought us two tickets for a jet boat ride in Sydney. Erica with her small frame found it quite painful to start off as she was being bounced around and clinging on tightly for dear life! It wasn't until 5 minutes into the ride that we realized it was far better for us to RELAX and LET GO, loosen our grip and LET THE BOAT CARRY US.

Then Jesus went to work on his disciples, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat, I AM." Matt 16:24 (MSG)

"Be still (relax, let go) and know (experience) I AM God." Psalm 46:10

To be honest, during these few weeks I have been struggling with fear. Fear of spending our last dime, fear of not getting a job I like, fear of the unknown, but the more I RESIST what He is doing, the more difficult it seems. But when I RELAX, let go and let the Spirit carry me, I find myself floating along the river of God.

Whether we RESIST or RELAX will depend entirely on our perception of God. Is He the kind and generous Father that Jesus talks about? Or is He some sort of distant observer? "Who is God to me?", "Do I know Him enough to trust Him?", "Can I trust Him at all?", "Will He come through for me?", "Am I on my own?"

There is no other question more central to your success than this one.

If our answers to these questions are plagued with doubt and uncertainty, then perhaps it is a sign that our perception is out of alignment with flow, and it is time for rest and restoration.

>>> To restore, is to re-write the story of you and God. <<<

Risk is the spice of life with Jesus. It is what makes us come alive, and if we can't enter into it with  confidence that our Heavenly dad will come through for us, then it will make that jump much more difficult.

It is for this reason that at the start of every adventure, there must first be a season of restoration and preparation. For us this may seem like just waiting around, but God works within us through the everyday, day in and day out, and He never measures our readiness by time, but by healing & growth.

Ultimately, at the end of all this is a God who invites us into friendship, because Friendship and Faith MUST go hand in hand. Understand that none of us have been asked to jump blind-faith, but we have been invited into friendship, from which an adventure of faith can begin. This means hearing from God, chatting like friends, sharing thoughts, desires, hopes and dreams.

This is where we must live. Friendship with our Guide. Our Guide to the Mountaintop.

For more information on Restoration or Hearing God's Voice, drop us an email!

Love, Wil & Eri

New Section for Women

Epic Life welcomes a new section especially for women!

Erica has been letting her creative spirit free and designed a page for women and about women.

Epic Women will be exploring the incredible life stories of women through the ages as well as providing a place for women to share their hearts, journey together and discover the deep restoration that comes from hearing words of affirmation from their Heavenly Dad.

Click on the icon on the right to access this page.