Sourdough Culture

Sourdough Bread, public domain pictures

A wonderful friend of mine named Emily Florian started a business called Empowership Coaching where she hosts an assortment of one-on-one and group encouragement and coaching opportunities, trainings, and classes, one of which is Dream Culture Alaska, based on Andy and Janine Mason's popular series Dream Journey.  Two and half years ago, I had the privilege of attending a Dream Journey Alaska class, which actually motivated me to get off my blessed assurance and start dreaming bigger visions with God. This blog, books, and new publishing company are all in response to the encouragement and tools I gained through that wonderful experience.  No journey in life is a smooth path.  I had to travel through my fears and doubts, which was a struggle rooted in false identity.

Those who tell you success is easy or comes overnight have never really obtained true success.  Success is a lifestyle of staying committed and true to the goals God has placed inside of you, and it takes time to develop.  As I've walked my own journey, the road has twisted and turned unexpectedly, and at times it seems to be more like a game trail, disappearing suddenly in deep brush, than the highway I would have preferred, but forward I march with the confidence that God really does bless those who dare to believe in Him and trust in the hopes and dreams He has placed inside their hearts.  Andy Mason stated, if your dream can be accomplished by yourself alone, it's too small.  What a challenge!  Dreaming the big dreams requires us to network with others to accomplish them.  Community is what life is all about, especially in the Body of Christ.  We need each other to accomplish the visions necessary to change the culture around us, transforming it for the Kingdom of God.

Last night, I was facing a strong sense of discouragement.  God always knows when to send that special someone to provide an encouraging word, and right at the moment I was about to turn off my computer for the night, an email suddenly "dinged" in the in-box.  It was from Emily, encouraging me once again on the Dream Journey, reminding me it is a Dream Culture.  She related it to sourdough bread.  With sourdough, the culture doesn't seem to rise as quickly as with a traditional yeast bread, but it does rise.  When protected, mixed properly, and allowed to rise and bake, sourdough has a distinctive flavor all it's own.   So today, I wanted to share with you that if you are experiencing discouragement, take heart.  Your dreams and goals may seem to rise slowly, almost unnoticeable at times, but they are rising.  And soon, you will eat of the sweet fruit your labors and dreams have produced.

P.S.  Here's a recipe I found online for making good sourdough.
http://www.alaska.net/~logjam/Sourdough.html

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