Reflections on the Kingdom of God

“How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of all garden trees; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”  Mark 4:30-32

We’ve spent the year exploring the Tree of Life and how to live in such a way that we are reflecting the life Jesus died to give us.  We examined how important it is that a tree has a good root system that goes deep into fertile soil.  The root system of the Word and Spirit allows us to grow a healthy, thriving tree in our lives.

The trunk represents community; as we live in healthy friendships with others who share our passion to live lives patterned after Jesus, and his two priorities of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, we develop a healthy trunk that surrounds and protects the great kingdom fruit found within the leaves and branches.

Jesus tells us that the mustard seed turns into the very greatest tree in the Garden.  Our small seed of faith, when rooted in God’s soil and surrounded by his faithful people, becomes a very attractive tree that all the birds of the air want to nest within. 

Why did Jesus tell this story?  He was a master at taking that which was familiar to the people and helping them to understand spiritual concepts.  He wanted them to know through their experience what the Kingdom of God is like. 

Jesus describes the Kingdom of God as a banquet to which a wealthy landowner sends his servants to go into the alleyways and byways to find those that are most hidden to come to his party.  Missio Lux got to host one of those kingdom parties on Easter and experience the Kingdom of God in action.

It wasn’t the flashy things that happened.  It was the quiet, almost invisible, kingdom taking place that permeated the dough of God’s delicious bread.

We knew that God had something special up his sleeve when we watched the signs of the weather.  The drive to the Square was in a major downpour of rain.  I prayed out, “Lord, wouldn’t you like to have a sunny party today?”  When we parked, it was no longer a downpour, it was now just a steady drizzle.

But, the gift came at exactly 1 p.m. when we gathered to pray before we started. The sun burst out of a bunch of clouds and stayed out for the WHOLE AFTERNOON.  The Kingdom of God was present in the weather.

The kingdom of God was also present in the atmosphere on the Square.  There was a tangible sense of peace and joy.  Paul tells us in Romans 14:17 that the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy.  We experienced that peace and joy in abundance on Easter Afternoon.

As I walked around, I saw table after table of men, women and children sharing a meal together.  They were listening actively to one another and crossing a giant cultural divide to reach out in friendship and faith.

I’ve heard several stories of the guests who encouraged the hosts.  The faith of the poor and disenfranchised is often very large and can encourage those of us who live in greater day to day security through our possessions and bank accounts.  When you don’t have a large safety net, you discover that Jesus is the true safety net in life.

One man I met was named Vince. 

He literally stumbled upon the Square by accident, as he was new to Seattle and didn’t even know that we were hosting a party.  He was looking for an AA meeting, but it was Easter and they weren’t there, so he found himself in the middle of a banquet. 

He told a man named Dan that he was seeking to go to Rehab the next day and was looking for bus money.  Dan knew that God had more than bus money in mind and he brought him to meet me.  Both Dan and I listened to Vince as he described a hellish childhood and adult years that found him addicted to drugs and alcohol, as well as serving several stints in prison.  Dan and I both prayed for Vince and then we took him to the center of the party where we had a communion table. 

As the three of us took communion, the Kingdom of God was present!

The Kingdom of God was present through children who decorated Easter bags, filled them with candy and delivered them to guests at their tables.  The bags had foam stickers on them and the guests had fun putting the stickers on their clothes and their hands and faces.  They laughed at one another with their silly decorations!

The Kingdom of God was present in the set up and take down.  Mike, the man who volunteered for the servant role of loading and unloading tables, chairs, and supplies had a helper. His name was John and he wore a shirt that said “Security” on it.  John was a  security guard from heaven as he worked so hard all afternoon.  He helped Mike and as he did, he told him his story.  John is recently homeless, a new experience for himself and his wife.  They are learning how to navigate life on the streets and are new enough to it that they are developing a burden for those that live this life for many years.  A friendship was formed between Mike and John as the birds nest in the branches.

The Kingdom of God was present as I left the Square.

  I met Randy who was talking to my friend Dave.  Randy had a beautiful guitar that he pulled out on my request.  He sang one song after another as he gave testimony to how God had worked in his life. 

Randy didn’t have much in life but he shared freely what he did have:  a talent for bringing joy to others through music.

As you go through your week, be aware of the simplicity of the Kingdom.  A simple word of encouragement, a touch, or an act of kindness pleases the King of the Kingdom and fills the tree with many beautiful birds nesting in the tree’s branches.  You never know when you are may be offering kindness to angels:  “Don’t forget to offer hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without even realizing it” (Hebrews 13:2).

Occidental Square, Part 3

Her name was Aeisha.  During an invitation to give testimonies, she stood up and spoke: "I am six months pregnant and addicted to drugs.  I am so sorry for what I have been doing to my unborn baby.  Will you pray for me?" 

It only took seconds before she was surrounded by a circle of love.  One woman, Beverly, had been speaking to her for a long time before.  She was drawn to her because she had a young friend that looked so much like her and she had died.  Beverly spoke to her tenderly out of the Scriptures about the depth of the Father's love for her.

I told her about Zechariah 2:5 where the Lord says, "There will be a wall of fire around you and I will be the glory in your midst."  I showed her the circle around her, and told her that when we follow Jesus his love reflects onto others. 

We prayed for her.  One young girl, Annika, came and put her hands on her back and prayed her heart out.  She later told her Mother that "she was praying for God to protect that baby."

Aeisha experienced the heart of her Heavenly Father through the presence of his beloved children that day. May she know the depth of his love for her throughout her life, and may she see his face in her baby when it is born.

Occidental Square, Part 2

His name is Vince (on the left).  He stumbled onto Occidental Square because he was looking for an AA meeting.  When he got to it, it wasn't meeting.  He made his way to Occidental Square accidentaly only to discover The Celebration!

He started talking to Dan, who brought him to me.  We both listened as he shared his story.  His mother started giving him drugs when he was 13.  He would wake up only to find her ready to give him a shot of cocaine.  He never knew his father. 

He ended up in prison.  Numerous times.  His last stint was for 6 1/2 years.  He continues to be addicted to drugs and alcohol but he is desperate to get off of them.  He was looking for bus money to go to the rehab place that Harborview Medical is sending him to. 

Dan offered to take him to the rehab, but before he left, I told Vince the story of the Compassionate Father.  This is the same father who waited on his porch day after day for his prodigal son to come home.  His son that he had sinned far too much for his father to continue to love him, so he had a speech prepared, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and earth.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son, but perhaps I could join your servants."  But, this father would not even listen to one word.  He called for the best coat in the house, for shoes to cover his feet, and a ring to signify whom he belonged to.  The father said, "We need to celebrate because my son has come home."

When Vince heard that this is the same father that had thrown him a party, at Occidental Square, he began to weep.  Don't you see it?  He ended up on the Square by "accident."  Instead of an ordinary day, it was a big party where he was given a warm meal, treated with honor, listened to, ministered to, prayed for and given communion.  This is the father that loves all his children and wants them to know how much.

Vince said that he cries out to God every day looking for someone to help him. Today, he experienced the loving heart of his heavenly father and the tender mercies of the King!

Occidental Square: Part 1

Today Missio Lux went to Occidental Square for our third Easter Celebration.  As our family sat eating our traditional "He is Risen Bread" for breakfast, the rain began to drizzle down.  I sighed.  After such a gorgeous day yesterday, I didn't look forward to being a wet duck at the Square for our celebration.

We got in the car to drive down. The rain got harder and harder and harder.  Pretty soon, it was challenging to see out my windows.  I began to call to the rain to stop and to make room for the sun to come through.  When we got to Occidental, the rain had let up quite a bit.  As we set up, it almost completely stopped.

And, the minute that we started:  1 p.m., the sun burst through and stayed warm and sunny for the whole afternoon.

This weather report is just a glimmer of what took place at the Square today.  I hope you will stay tuned each day this week as I tell a few of the stories of how God was present to every one of us that were present with him at Occidental Square.

Stay tuned and sleep well!

The Ripple Effect Expands

One of our strategies for growth in Missio Lux is the Ripple Effect.

We believe that everything that we do will eventually expand several ripples beyond our own geographical region or influence, thereby multiplying our efforts for the Kingdom!

This weekend, Missio Lux is celebrating a wonderful Kingdom Ripple.

Two years ago, I was the Retreat Speaker for Bethany Covenant Church in Mt. Vernon, Wa. Missio Lux was just getting started. I was able to meet with a few of the women during the free time and one woman I met caught the rock thrown into the pond and has been instrumental in bringing kingdom ripples to her church, Bethany Covenant.

Her name is Anne. She brought her family to Occidental Square on Easter that year. She attended a Human Trafficking seminar that I spoke about during the retreat. She came to our food assembly with Children of the Nations. She also came to our Healing Prayer Training last year.

But, Anne didn't just stop with experience! She has taken much of it back to Mt. Vernon.

She has started a group that is working on erradicating human trafficking in their area. She was the catalyst to getting a food assembly on the calendar and even involved other churches in the area to do it.

But, most of all, Anne is now bringing 12 healing prayer ministers to our Missio Lux Prayer Training this year, so they can start a healing prayer training in their church.

So, as I am speaking, I am bringing 8 members our prayer ministry to partner with 5 members of their prayer training (men are not invited to this retreat!) to pray when we arrive to prepare the atmosphere, before the sessions, in response to the sessions, and to hold personal prayer appointments during Saturday afternooon.

I love doing ministy this way. Not only are we seeing the work we are doing here in Seattle expand, we are developing meaningful friendships along the way. Kingdom Partnerships are key for the 21st century and I am delighted that Bethany Covenant is one of our most valued partnerships in Missio Lux.

Look for my blog next week to let you know how it goes! In the meantime, pray the prayers of Jesus where he taught us to pray: "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!"