Marching into Our Destiny
Matt. 3: 17 “and behold, a voice from heaven said, This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Well, March is the beginning of Spring…for most of us it marks the end of a bit of a crazy winter. One sign of the change is the springing forward of daylight savings time. I am not sure it saves us any time, but it does seem to make the days longer, and I for one like it still being light out when I get home.
March also speaks of March madness for many; the basketball playoffs are soon to begin, and the baseball season is not far away. Ah, Spring!
I can only assume that Jesus baptism seemed to be just an event in the crazy changes that were happening in Israel at the time of John the Baptist. He was preaching repentance, challenging the religious leaders to shape up, and preparing the way for the King. Crazy times indeed, but often in the midst of crazy God is at work, doing little things that are significant, even world altering.
Up until his baptism, Jesus was a faithful son, brother, worker, head of the family since his step father had passed. He had done nothing significant that we know of with his life. Yet, in an act of simple obedience, he is baptized, and heaven declares that the Father is pleased with the son…not for what he has done, or even what he will eventually do, but simply because he is the Father’s son.
What most of us wouldn’t give to hear words like that spoken over us…by a natural father or mother, or even from a trusted spiritual leader. Perhaps one of the missing ingredients in the average believers’ life is the knowledge that they are not average, or insignificant, or unworthy…but they are beloved as well. In fact, we are who God says we are, thus it is essential that we know who we are, and that is the focus of much of my writing…from Journey to Wholeness to I Want to Be Like You Dad to this months special offering on Identity. If you know who you are, you will know what to do…and Jesus, knowing he was the beloved son, went about doing good (God stuff), healing, delivering, teaching and training, for the glory of his Father, and as an example for us to follow…in our own unique way. Remember, as he is, so are we in this world! (1 John 4: 17)
I hope, if you have not gotten the book Claim Your Identity, you will…and that this Spring you will remember that you are just like Jesus already, in your spirit, and becoming more like him in your soul and even you body as you renew your mind and walk in his precepts.
This Month
This month I am continuing my new blog…a vlog, with written blog, based upon one of my books. This months offering is based upon my book Claim Your Identity https://www.booksbyvision.org/product/claim-your-identity/. I am hopeful that the book and the teaching will be a blessing to all who read and watch…I want to encourage you to also check it out at www.drstandekoven.com.
Brief Update
On April 6, Vision will launch a special night of worship, word and personal ministry for the Ramona community in our new building. We are excited about this first outreach to our community…the first of many Ephesus Center outreaches. I will be lead by new partners in ministry, Dennis and Lelani Songer, and a host of others. Please keep us in your prayers as we work to see Jesus name lift up in Ramona.
I just returned from a quick day in Redding, meeting with Dr Harold and Linda Eberle, and also the leadership of Bethel School of the Supernatural. We are working on some potential partnerships, for Africa and maybe more. This will be similar to the partnership we have with other major ministries…especially Charis Bible College in Woodland Park, CO. and ISOM.
Thanks for Your Continued Faithfulness
As I hope you know, without faithful givers such as yourself, we could not do the life transforming work we do. This month, your generous gift of of any size will helped us plant new colleges in the nations through our Bible College in a Box, and helped educate leaders in the nations. I will give you more information on specific blessings you are providing through your generous giving in Aprils Gideon 300 update.
Continued Reminder
Again, by way of not too subtle reminder, we continue to take care of what the Lord has entrusted to us, as we continue with our two-pronged focus:
Vision International University:
Preparing International leaders through degree granting programs, with a special emphasis on the nations of the world
and the Vision International Training and Education Network:
- With our Vision School of Ministry for local church training,
- Walk in Wisdom seminars, various equipping seminars and on-line certificate course,
- counseling outreach, church planting and dynamic publishing…
- taking the whole word to the whole world.
We are still in need of help for:
- Repairs on the foundation, and Flooring for the Fellowship hall and my office in the main building will begin when we dry out…hopefully in the next couple of weeks.
- Wisdom for the Launch of our on line Chaplaincy program, Coaching program, and also my weekly Tuesday Night teaching (which we hope to live stream) from Ramona.
So, please keep us in prayer, and especially pray for a continued flow of generous givers to help in our journey, and concentrate on Accreditation! Praying for you to have a peace pursuing 2019 for the glory of God.
We pray for all our Gideon 300 members…and we are so grateful for generous givers like you. Your gift, large of small, helps is to fulfill the Vision of Vision…taking the whole word to the whole world, and Preparing leaders in the 21st Century. Again, thanks for your kindness, generosity and faithfulness.
I hope you enjoy this months Vision Update. Also, speaking check out Apostle George Runyan’s book “Fit for Engagement”
It is excellent! Blessings.
Dr Stan
