TAKING OUR LUMPS

I have never been much of a "Susie homemaker," but I have baked a few cookies and loaves of bread in my life. Perhaps if you are an experienced baker, this may not seem that amazing, but I have not gotten to the point where the amazement has worn off. I am amazed at what a little yeast can do to the whole heap of dough. Those minuscule particles of yeast are powerful! So powerful, in fact, that once these tiny bits are mixed in, they work through the entire dough affecting its reaction.

I love to use yeast as an analogy because it gives us perspective into how something so small can initiate such a powerful response. I Corinthians 5:6b, KJV, says. "Know ye not that a little leaven [yeast] leaveneth the whole lump [batch of dough]?"

So, how are you taking your lumps today? Are you taking the high road or are you lost in traffic on the low road? Is there something in your life that is causing your anger to rise up? Is there something in your life that is causing your insecurity to rise up? Is there something in your life that is causing low self-esteem to rise up? Everything that happens to us throughout the day is like mixing leaven in the lump and this leaven will determine what we, as lumps, are really made of.

A little leaven of doubt can turn us into a lump of worry. A little leaven of fear can turn us into a lump of anger or depression. A little leaven of shame can turn us into a lump of self-loathing. However, on the other hand, leaven can also work the opposite way. A little leaven of faith can turn us into a lump of hope. A little leaven of love can turn us into a lump of compassion and understanding. A little leaven of God can turn us into our greatest possibility.

It is so important that we recognize what leaven we are allowing into our lives. Even the smallest amount of negativity can affect our whole attitude and outlook on life. We must be careful what we are allowing to be molded into our hearts and minds. Many times we settle for much less than we deserve; drugs, excessive alcohol, bad relationships, promiscuity, none of which is good for us. Many of us allow these things in our lives because we think it is what we deserve or that is the best we can do. I am here to remind you that you do not "knead" that in your life! We must remind one another that we are all divinely created with a higher purpose than what many of us are living! It all starts with the leaven! What are you mixing with your thoughts? What are you mixing with your heart? What kind of leaven are you allowing in? It all starts out so small and then it begins to affect every aspect of our lives.

Take time to examine what you allow to infiltrate your psyche. Negative begets negative, positive begets positive. You are the child of the Most High, and when it comes to living a spectacular and blessed life, knowing who we are is the only reminder we knead.

Rev. Denise Cordova is pastor of Light of the Soul Christian Ministries, which meets every Sunday @ 7:00 PM in Reno, NV. Denise is a Jesus activist in the gltb community and is proud to proclaim God’s love for all people. You may contact her at liteofthesoul@aol.com or (775) 323-2798.