As we continually lay our passions and the desires of our heart on the altar, we can be assured that God is desiring to use them for His purpose and glory, when He keeps igniting them again and again!

Artists Need Outlets

All artists need outlets to express their art form.  Artists also need the right environments for their creativity and their artistic gifts and talents to thrive and grow. 

This is true for every living thing - including people, plants, etc.

Do you have an outlet for your art form and are you in the right environment for your artistic and creative giftings to be expressed, thrive, and grow?  Are you as an individual surrounding yourself in the right environment to grow spiritually as well?

What about Your Dance? For His Glory or "In the Gutter"? {Are you a light to the world, or do you look just like the world?}*

 All who claim God as their Maker, you were created for His glory,

for it is God who created you.

(Isaiah 43:7 paraphrased)

In today's society, there seems to be a disconnect, especially with dancers and choreographers who claim God as their Father and Savior and Lord, who choose to be connected with artistic endeavors that are more reflective of the attitudes and values of our culture rather than reflecting the light of Christ (based on the music lyrics, movements, and attire).  Some might argue, it's "only a dance" just for entertainment, or just for fun.  There are plenty of wholesome, fun, and entertaining choices available that would not alienate non-believers nor would offend believers or cause believers to question where the dancer (or choreographer) is spiritually(?); these choices are not the issue.  However, a good question for us to consider might be this:  Is Jesus really pleased with my participation in this particular piece?  What would He say about the lyrics in the music?  What would He say about the attire and the movements?  If Jesus were physically present in the audience would He applaud and say, "well done" and  or would He be silent?  (Of course, Jesus' presence is with us always by His Spirit.)  Would He be pleased with all the time, talent, and resources we have poured into our performance - even if it is just for fun?

For some strange reason, a lot of dancers seem to totally disconnect their gift of dance from anything to do with their walk with Christ.  Even if you have never considered or thought about using dance as a part of worship or in an evangelical manner (and do not have a sense of a specific calling in this area), or are not involved with dance where the intentional purpose is to bring honor and glory to God, but is rather only meant for entertainment or just for fun, shouldn't there at least be some boundaries you will not cross or certain compromises you will not make because you belong to Christ and are representing Christ in everything you do?   Yes, in Christ, we have freedom and liberty, and certainly, this is not a salvation issue, as we know it is by grace we are saved (and His grace and love covers a multitude of  sins); but even the Apostle Paul stated we should not use our freedom to cause someone else to stumble.

Some other questions to ponder to hopefully challenge and inspire you to come up higher in this area, and to be used perhaps as a voice that sends out a different message other than what the world is so unashamedly declaring, are as follows:

• Is your dance or choreography bringing glory to God or is it "in the gutter",  just like a lot of our present culture's dance performances. 
• Is it exposing the darkness or proposing darkness?  After all, haven't we been called out of darkness into the light?  If so, why are we so at ease performing in pieces that are so blatantly dark or openly seductive?
• Is your dance or choreography compromising to your convictions as a Christian (follower of Christ)? 
• Is it conforming to the culture or challenging the culture (challenging in a positive way, such as inspiring, thought provoking, or causing people to think on a higher level, etc.) or is it at least enjoyable, uplifting, and positive?   (Let's face it, our culture is producing enough negative without our help.)
• Even if the piece you are participating in is just for fun and entertainment, do you think it would make Jesus smile too?
• Are you a light to the world or do you look just like the world?

When our choices in music, choreography and costuming conform to the culture's desensitization to darkness and seduction, it appears that we desire more the approval of the culture than the approval of God.

Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth,

but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you.

Isaiah 60:2

Is the darkness covering your dance and your choreography,

or is the glory of the Lord

rising and radiating through it?

For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory.

All glory to Him forever! Amen.

Romans 11:36

*Scripture references:  1 Corinthians 10:13; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 5:1; Romans 14:21; 1 Corinthians 8:13; 1 Peter 2:9; Matthew 5:14-16; Matthew 28:20; Acts 2:25; Psalm 149:3: Mark 7:5-7; Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 1:5-6; Philippians 4:8

CREATIVITY LACKING OR OVERFLOWING?

Since God is the Master Creator/Artist of the universe, the artists who belong to Christ and are "in Christ" should be the most creative people on the planet. 

However, this will only be true as we remain in fellowship with God and are connected to Him in the spirit.  As we remain divinely connected and in tune with the Master Artist of all time through the Holy Spirit, the result (or fruit) will be holy, God-inspired creativity (through our art, music, drama, dance, etc.).

If you feel your creativity has become stagnant or almost non-existent as an artist, perhaps it is the result of a lack of real, continual fellowship with your Heavenly Father in your spirit?  Consider disconnecting more from the worldly and un-Christlike cultural influences and from your flesh (which profits nothing* and will not produce the desire of the Spirit of God - even artistically), and, instead, immerse yourself more in the presence of God through prayer, His Word, and worship. 

Divine creativity will spontaneously overflow out of the spirits of those who are continually connected to the Spirit of God, especially for those who are called to create for His glory!

Advice for those who desire to remain students in the Master Artist's workshop:

More prayer, more Word, more worship

= more creativity for God's glory!


The Spirit of God is creative and was creative from the beginning:
Genesis 1:1-2 - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was without form and void and darkness was on the face of the deep and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Galatians 5:16
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Galatians 5:24
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life - is not from the Father but is from the world.

Remember What is Most Important

Many of us seek to be known by men and to have the applause of men, but it is more important to be known by God and to have the applause of Heaven.

Ingredients Dance Company (May, 2008) - In Your Presence

To view this, search "Ingredients Dance Company"-In Your Presence on www.youtube.com

From May, 2008 - Ingredients Dance Company

God is seeking worshipers who dance too (John 4:23-24), and many are answering the call to arise and shine for His glory (Isaiah 60:1-2). Hope this inspires all you dancers who are called to worship God through your dance (Psalm 149:3). Stay in His Presence and allow His Spirit and His glory to flow through you. May all you RADical dancers arise and shine and may the glory of the Lord radiate through you! When we are willing to step out and follow His calling in faith, the results are full of His blessings!

WHO ARE YOU DANCING FOR?

If you desire to worship God through your dance - don't perform, but instead worship. If you have prepared to worship through a choreographed piece (as a group, ministry team, etc.), through sufficient rehearsal time, then, once it is time to share this piece in the presence of others, you will need to let go and worship. It is through worship that we experience God's presence and His Spirit flows through us; performance often hinders this or being concerned about how you look, your technique, etc. Just as when you are worshiping through song in a corporate worship setting in a church service, and, you have to block out the distractions of others, etc. in order to truly connect with the Lord, you will have to block out the thoughts about yourself and others as you focus solely on offering your praise and worship through your dance to God. Try practicing this on your own - it will help. In your own personal worship time with the Lord, worship through a choreographed piece you know, and/or spontaneously to better prepare you to move in this freedom when you are in the presence of others. It is what we practice in private that can then come forth boldly in the presence of others.

Using dance for ministry purposes will not occur, as long as we are holding onto the focus being on ourselves. Yes, dance is visual and in order to minister to people through it, they will observe the dance and the dancer. The difference will be if you are truly connecting in worship to the Lord in order for the presence of His Spirit to flow through you, so they too can connect with God in worship and be touched by His presence as well.

Your heart's desire as a worship dancer should be to bless the Lord and to bless others as well.

Remember: Performers are concerned about pleasing people; worshipers are concerned about pleasing God. Close out the world around and you and focus on worshiping God through your dance. Let go of the performance and worship God in spirit and in truth - freedom and the presence of God will follow!

God is seeking worshipers - not dancers - John 4:23-24
Praise Him with your dance! (Psalm 149:3)

Dance for Jesus - He is watching and He is the Only One who matters! He is truly the Lord of the dance!

Who are you dancing for?

What Does the Bible Say about our Gifts?

What does the Bible say about our gifts - spiritual, artistic, or any other gift God has given you?

1) Don't neglect them - 1 Timothy 4:14

2) Use them or lose them - Matthew 25:20-21

3) Serve others through them - 1 Peter 4:10

What are you doing with the gifts God has given you? Our gifts are given not just for ourselves, but for the purpose of blessing others as we cultivate and use them.

May we all desire to hear our Heavenly Father say, "Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:21,23)

The result of cultivating your gifts, using your gifts, and serving others through your gifts is joy and fulfillment, and the feeling of "Yes! I was created for this!".

ACTS Acronym from an Artist's Perspective

A - Artists
C - Continually
T - Thriving in the
S - Spirit

Thought: If this were true of all artists who belong to Christ - just think of what the outcome might be!

Original ACTS acronym most of us are familiar with is the one used as a guide for prayer - which is a great tool:

A - Adoration
C - Confession
T - Thanksgiving
S - Supplication

The Overflow of the Heart

IF OUT OF THE HEART, THE MOUTH SPEAKS!

THEN

OUT OF THE HEART, THE ARTIST CREATES!

PURE HEART = PURE ART!

Matthew 12:34; Luke 6:45

I Have a Dream Too!

Yes, I have a dream! I believe it is a dream that God has planted in my heart as well as the hearts of some other dreamers too!

A dream of seeing every art form in a collaborative spirit of unity proclaiming the gospel of Christ and ushering in the glorious presence of God's Spirit in a powerful way that is used so exceedingly, abundantly beyond what we can imagine or think (Ephesians 3:20).

A dream of seeing excellent and creative artistic expression in a bold and glorious fashion that is used to challenge, inspire, bring conviction and restoration and healing by demonstrating the power of God's Spirit, majesty and holiness to a world that is so blinded by the compromised nature of humanistic expression void of any spiritual value. This dream involves many consecrated and anointed artists who have answered the call of God on their lives to be used for the purpose of glorifying their Heavenly Father and reaching out to those who need to be restored by and reconciled to their Heavenly Father.

May God's Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10). Perhaps this dream will only be realized in Heaven, but I'm still dreaming.

Joel 2:28 (Also Acts 2:17)
"And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions."*

*This older woman is dreaming too.

A Restoration Artist's Prayer

Dear Lord,
I pray you will call out and raise up within this generation some true restoration artists. Call out the redeemed artists you have called by name whom you have restored and are restoring to the purpose for which they were created - to bring you glory in all that they are and in all they do. Call out the ones who truly love you with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength - the pure, undivided hearts - the worshiping artists who live and breathe in the presence of the Holy Spirit. May their only agenda be to bring You glory, to worship You in spirit and in truth and to bring freedom to the captives through their artistic giftings that come from You alone. Connect the restoration artists in a spirit of unity for this season and this time for the new thing you desire to bring forth that will bring glory to You Lord and You alone.
Hear this cry, answer this prayer and fulfill this petition (Psalm 20). May Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven (where every art form and every gifting will be used solely for the purpose you created it for). In Jesus' name, Amen.