Spreading like yeast

I find it interesting that Jesus uses yeast in His parables twice, representing two completely different things. First, Jesus uses yeast to symbolize His kingdom: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough." Matthew 13:31-32

A small amount of yeast can slowly infiltrate the entire "large amount" of dough. Which is like the kingdom of heaven (which He calls us to NOW, not just in heaven). His kingdom gradually, relentlessly, and unceasingly continues to move towards completion. All of this, He equates to something as small and seemingly insignificant as yeast.

He also speaks about yeast in another parable, the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. On a side note, this is one passage that is hilarious to me. Jesus says, "be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees," and the disciples begin to worry that Jesus was upset at them because they forgot to bring bread. I can imagine Peter blaming the others, "See Matthew, I told you to bring the bread," and I can picture Jesus shaking His head wondering why the disciples were such idiots. Then Jesus says, "How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Like most of His parables, the disciples voice a collective "ahhhhhhaaa."

The yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees was just as gradual, and just as relentless, and ultimately could infect the entire ball of dough. More than just the "teaching" of the religious leaders, I believe the "yeast" represented the self-righteous mind-set that many of us can quickly acquire when we have some sort of epiphany or have gained a better understanding of who God is. Most of the time, this understanding is pure and simple knowledge that can quickly turn to a clique of sorts. Jesus says to be on guard against this. If we are truly chasing after God, then we are going to have a lot of these epiphanies. We may see a better way to meet together and worship God, we may attain a better grasp of the Holy Spirit, we may understand our own personal calling and feel deeply connected to God because of it (like wanting to sell your possessions and buy an RV to travel around the country). All of these things however can cause divisions between believers if we are not "on our guard." Whenever God reveals something to us we must first be humble, we must be accepting of those who disagree, or who don't understand. If not, we create a clique of people who think and believe just like we do.

Let me be completely transparent here: I have struggled with "being filled with the Holy Spirit." I have asked God to fill me with His Spirit, others have prayed the exact same prayer, no shaking, no deeper understanding, no healing, no casting out demons. In Jesus' name, I have tried, but that is for another blog post. I have felt out of place amongst certain friends because I'm not a part of "The Holy Spirit Club." I am confident that His spirit is inside of me, and that the fruits that He guarantees in Galatians overflow from my life, but I'm just not quite part of the clique, I don't have, as Robert Duval's character in The Apostle says, "Holy Ghost power!" I hope many of you out there don't hold this against me.

My prayer is that this journey we are on is done through humility and understanding, one that tears down walls rather than build them up. We will come across (and already have) people who don't agree with us, even people who love the Lord - God calls us to love them anyway, God calls us to accept them anyway, not create a clique that separates ourselves from them. I pray that the yeast of self-righteousness is burnt up and destroyed, something only the fruit of the Spirit can do.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23

Kinda crazy

So, we're pondering the idea that we may not have our house sold, we may not have an RV, and we may still have a dog by the time June 16th rolls around. And the question comes, "so do we still go?"
For a variety of reasons my flesh wants to say "no" to that question. But I am starting to see that God doesn't necessarily speak through the things of this world. He can, because He can do anything. But I am understanding more that He speaks through His Spirit, to our hearts and minds. He has called us to go whether our house sells or not. He can and will make a way. If anything, we will drive across the US in our van, setting up camp where we can and finding fellow believers to take us in. Heck, he sent the disciples out two by two with nothing more then their clothes on their backs and maybe food for the next meal. I'm not saying He is asking the same for us. What I am saying is that we can't let the things of this world stop us from obeying the call God has on our lives. The things of this world will try to stop us and unfortunately, has stopped many.
Staying until our house sells sounds very logical and safe, as a mother of 3. But does He always call us to do safe and logical things? Something in my spirit feels at peace with placing our family, this call to life change, my small children, and all the little details into my Fathers' hands. He is calling each and everyone one of His children into deep relationship with Him, trusting Him, and being certain in the things we do not see.
Well, my faith is being stretched, to say the least. But until God places a brick wall up around me, I will continue to follow the direction He is leading us. I will NOT allow the prince of this world to sway me! At this moment, I feel safe stepping into darkness because I am following the Light.
Lord, give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to follow even when our "plans" fail. Give us more revelation of Jesus who lives in us and the Kingdom that we are called to live out here on earth. And most importantly, give us courage and strength to deny our flesh and take up our cross for Your sake. AMEN!!

That Guy

My wife found a really cool new (to us) musician named Andy Gullahorn. I know not all of you may like folk music, but this guy is an amazing lyricist. He can pull you into his story whether the song is meant to be funny, like More of a Man a song about how he now is a father and husband who watches Dora the Explorer, The Gilmore Girls and his cholesterol, when in his youth he went hunting, bucked hay, and ate chicken fried steak, or when he is singing about how much he loves his wife (Give it Time).

He then changes it up and sings about losing a child at birth in How Precious Life Is. He is a father of 3, and many of his songs speak to me as a father - simple lyrics, but they tell truth, and a truth that cuts to the heart.

In Holy Ground he sings about a group of homeless men and women that begin to sleep in an abandoned church (reminiscent of the story Shane Claiborne tells of St. Edwards in Philly). When the priest comes to kick them out, he is won over by their love, and understands that the church is a place for the poor, the broken -- the priest decides to stay with them.

Probably the most impacting lyrics come from the song That Guy. This song gives me a better understanding of God - seriously! I didn't know a song could do that, but I can't do it justice, so listen to it yourself:

That Guy by Andy Gullahorn

He scoped out the market
All the women and kids
With so many distractions
Nobody noticed him
Nobody noticed him
He had a jacket a size too big
A skullcap on his head
And a couple of homemade bombs
He duct taped them to his chest
He taped them to his chest

God loves that guy
God loves that guy

He followed his heart
To a co-worker’s bed
He could have salvaged his marriage with kids
But he chose to leave instead
He chose to leave
He thought it was love
But it was just a mirage
So he sits in his idling car
Parked in a closed garage
Inside a closed garage

God loves that guy
God loves that guy

Me on the other hand I can write somebody off
Like the last check for a student loan
I can love when it’s convenient
But it’s not always convenient
It’s not always the easy road
I want to look past the outside to the well-meaning heart
To the good they forgot that they had
Teach me to love, teach me to love
Teach me to love like that

He messed up again
Wanted to disappear
But he can’t ‘cause he’s easy to find
I see him in the mirror
I see him in the mirror

God loves that guy
God loves that guy
Teach me to love, teach me to love
Teach me to love like that
Love like that

I don't know if any of you have ever experienced this, but this is more than just worship music, I feel like I am closer to God when I listen and internalize these words. I feel like I can be a better father, a better husband, like I understand some deeper truth when I listen. I know, that might sound far fetched, but I hear the Lord speak to me nearly every time I listen to his words.

Let's fight!

You thought I was going to spill the beans again and give you the juice on Andy and I, huh? Nope.
I AM going to share how I have felt the call to fight though.
During the last week Satan has kicked it up a knotch, doing what he can to discourage and condemn. Honestly, it has been a bit of a rough week but it has also been a victorious week! I am thankful to have friends and family praying on our behalf, and more than thankful to have the Holy Spirit in my heart realigning me when I get off course.
I'm reading The Nature of God by Graham Cooke and wanted to share a portion with you all because this is what I am learning.....
"When God is cemented at the fore of our hearts, we see our relationship deepen in ways we never thought possible. There is a place in the Holy Spirit set aside for every one of us where we can make the enemy tired, depressed, weary, confused, and exasperated. It's a place where our relationship with God has a profound effect on the enemy and the people we live amongst. What we think about God can shatter the hold of darkness on our friends and family. Our intimacy with God should be our most intimidating weapon against the enemy. We have all seen people trying to operate in authority when they just don't have it- it's painful to see. As well-trained charismatic Christians, we think getting louder is how we should try and take authority. But our authority comes out of who we are in Christ, and our capacity to intimidate the enemy comes out of our intimacy with God."
Wow. Our authority comes out of who we are in Christ.
You see, somehow my heart and mind had started setting itself on June 16th. And just recently the possibility that this date is uncertain (which it always has been :)) has sort of caught me off guard, causing me to freak out a little. This date has been my security, as odd as it sounds- something to hold onto in the midst of changing our life completely. With the house not selling, nobody offering to adopt our dog, and no RV in sight with a month and a half left to go till June 16, the enemy has had a hay day with my mind. No, I am not completely losing it, but the Peace of God got dim for about a week and worry and anxiety started to camp out.
So, here we go again.
But this time God gave me a new perspective. This is not about me AT ALL. It's about Satan trying to get at God, by aiming arrows at us. We are in between the two. But again, it is our Savior who steps in and takes it for us. And our authority comes out of who we are in Christ. Our Father who is in complete control and stands over Satan has sent His Son to come and intervene those arrows that are aimed at us. We can either take the arrows ourselves and get knocked down or we can acknowledge Christ who lives in us to take the arrows for us so He can throw them back at the enemy.
So, my prayers lately have not been on the house, the dog, or the RV. They have been focused on asking for more revelation of Christ in me. God can figure out the rest and I have peace in that.

Herman's Mustard Seed

Check out this experiment: What can one dollar really do?

This is the way we must begin to think - creatively finding ways to voluntarily redistribute to "the least of these." Spreading the love, spreading the mustard seeds.