September 2, 2025 • 33 mins
Do you feel like you've missed your window to pursue the creative calling God placed in your heart? That nagging voice suggesting you're too old, too inexperienced, or that you've simply missed your chance might be louder than ever. But what if everything you believe about creative timing is fundamentally wrong?
This episode tackles the pervasive lie that artistic callings come with an expiration date. Drawing from Romans 11:29, we explore how "the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable" – meaning the creative purpose God designed for you remains intact regardless of your age or life circumstances. Through powerful examples like Moses who led Israel at 80, Sarah who gave birth at 90, and Grandma Moses who began painting in her late 70s, we see how God's timeline often defies conventional wisdom.
Your past experiences haven't disqualified you – they've prepared you. Every career path, relationship, hardship, and triumph has contributed to the unique perspective you bring to your art. What feels like delayed timing might actually be divine preparation for a creative expression only possible through the lens of your lived experience.
Using the practical framework of the five R's (Recognize, Repent, Replace, Reinforce, and Rejoice), you'll learn how to dismantle the lies that have framed your thinking and replace them with God's truth about your creative identity. Each morning becomes an opportunity to declare your creative calling is alive and your best days are ahead.
Whether you're 35 or 85, this message will rekindle hope that your artistic journey isn't over – it might just be beginning. The world needs the creative expression only you can offer, and God's gifts don't come with an expiration date. Are you ready to say yes to the creative calling that's always been yours?
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Do you ever feel like it's too late to pursue the
creative calling that God's putinto your life?
Maybe you feel like you know,gosh, I'm too old, life got in
the way, or I missed my window,or look at all these other
people doing it.
I could never do that now inthis season of my life.
Listen, I just want to bustinto the middle of that today
and let you know that, listen,god knows exactly where you are.
The gift of God that he's putinside of you does not expire.
(00:23):
The gift of God that he's putinside of you does not expire,
and I'm going to give you somepractical tips today on how you
can start exploring and steppinginto the very creative calling
that God has for your life.
Today, here, on the ThrivingChristian Artist, all of the
world artists are awakeningpainters and potters, writers
and weavers, poets and dancersnot chasing followers or fame,
but sons and daughters calledfor such a time as this,
(00:45):
transformed from the inside out,creating with purpose,
releasing the glory of God andliving in the power of the
kingdom.
Right now, this is the ThrivingChristian Artist.
Well, hey, my friend, welcometo the Thriving Christian Artist
.
Whether it's your first time,first time in a long time or
whether you're a regularlistener and viewer here to us,
(01:06):
super glad that you are here.
Everything we do here is allabout raising up an army of
artists to reveal God's glory inthe earth, about equipping you
and inspiring you to be all anddo all and have all that God's
got for you as an artist in hiskingdom, and so I'm super, super
glad that you're here.
Make sure that you hit thesubscribe button if you're here
on YouTube, as well, as leave mesome comments.
(01:28):
As we're chatting togethertoday, I'd love to know what
God's saying to you, as I'msharing, hopefully, things that
are inspirational and reallyeducational for you, to
encourage you to step intoeverything that God's got for
you.
Wherever you are in your artjourney, whether you're just
starting out or whether you'vebeen doing this for a hundred
years, like me.
It seems like so well, hey,listen, you know those of you
(01:49):
that know me.
I know that I've been mentoringartists now for a lot of years,
been a professional artist forover 30 years, been mentoring
artists since gosh, since 2009.
And I've seen a lot of storiesand I've seen a lot of things
that can inspire and moveartists forward, and I've seen a
lot of things that can paralyzeartists, and one of the things
(02:11):
that I've been privy to see in alot of people's lives is
something that they don't talkabout.
A lot can kind of beembarrassing, and it's this idea
of gosh.
I do feel like I'm talented andI do feel like God wants to do
something through my life, but Ijust feel like I've missed my
chance, like I'm too old, likeI'm not with it enough, like my
art's not good enough anymore,like somehow we get this idea in
(02:34):
our mind that our calling as anartist has expired and
hopefully today is going to helpyou bust through that and
realize that is not at all God'sbest for you and not the truth.
In fact, as I was getting readyfor this today, I started
thinking about, you know, my ownjourney.
I'm 51 now as I as I recordthis, and I'll be 52 actually
next month.
(02:54):
It's getting here closer thanthat, I want to admit.
But I can remember, you know,when I first got out of college
and was leading worship.
That was kind of what I wasknown for.
I was doing my baskets and myart as a hobby, but I was
getting paid for doingprofessionally and I was writing
music and recording and doing,you know, leading worship and
(03:15):
just loved that.
And I don't know if you've everbeen in that kind of world
before, but there is a.
Even in the church maybe,especially in the church, there
could be a real kind of hustlementality about that and it's
sort of.
I remember one of the pastorsthat I was friends with.
He talked about the anointingof new.
That you know, if it was new,it was anointed.
If it was new, if it was fresh,that was obviously the best
(03:35):
thing.
And obviously we know that thatcan be a lot of immaturity now
to even think like that.
But back as a young man comingout of college and pursuing
leading worship and all thethings that I felt like God had
for me, man, I really felt thatpressure and I remember I served
several churches and then weended up going through a big
(03:56):
church split crazy thing.
Maybe you've gone throughsomething like that before and I
stepped out of ministry for aseason and that's when I had our
graphic design and web designbusiness back in Atlanta and you
know I was going through ahealing journey doing all the
stuff.
You know we started a familyand just were doing the things
that we were called to do inthat season and I was doing my
(04:18):
baskets really as a hobby andnever really, you know, thought
about competition from thatstandpoint.
Or, you know, I was in mythirties at this point, so I'm
like I was just doing what Iloved and and really didn't,
wasn't thinking about it interms of any income or or impact
or anything.
But, man, I remember when Ibegan to think about, well, lord
(04:39):
, are you calling me back intoministry, are you calling me
back into, you know, out of thishealing journey that I've been
walking through, and back intovocational ministry and was
talking with my pastor andeverything like, what does that
look like?
You know, I remember one of thethings that really hit me
strongly and again, I wasprobably late thirties, I don't
(04:59):
know, I'm not good at mathnecessarily, so this is, this
was like 2007, eight, right inthere.
I'm born in 73.
You do the math, so, but Iremember thinking, oh my gosh,
I'm not.
I'm not with all the new musicand all this technology has come
out and I don't think I'm.
I don't think I'm what churchesare looking for and can I do
(05:21):
this and all this sort of thing.
And, man, there was a lot offear just around.
Have I missed my window?
And you know, in the middle ofthat the Lord was so faithful to
say not only do I have acalling for your life, not only
is this creativity that I put inyou something that's from me,
not just something that youthink is a little side idea, but
(05:44):
I've got a whole new expressionof your creativity in this
season that you don't even knowabout yet, and I'm going to use
it in ways that you don't evenexpect.
And so, if you know anythingabout my story or read any of my
books, especially in Unlockingthe Heart of the Artist, I talk
a lot about this.
You know, god began to justunfold this incredible vision
(06:05):
for my life and ministry and myart, which had really very
little to do with the creativeexpression that I'd done up
until this point, which had beenleading worship and music, and
all that.
Up until that point, I thoughtof myself as primarily a
musician.
When God called me to raise upan army of artists, I thought
about it primarily in terms ofthe performing arts.
(06:26):
Little did I know that in themiddle of that he said no, no,
he said they're going to be someof them that come along and you
may be one of those peopletoday, and I'm glad you're here.
And I'm still a musician.
I've right here in my, in mystudios, my piano.
I'm leading worship for myselfevery day, just in my own quiet
time, and I still lead worshipat conferences and in church and
all the stuff.
(06:46):
I love that.
But the Lord said, no, I'm goingto do something different.
I'm going to take this thingthat's always been a love and a
passion of yours your basketsand I'm going to turn that into
the primary vehicle of not onlyyour artistic expression but
also your creative calling inthe kingdom.
And man, when he did that, Ijust thought, wow, this doesn't
(07:09):
make any sense.
But you know, here's the coolthing.
The cool thing that it did isit broke the back of that lie
that I was, I guess, believingin my life at that point and I
know the enemy was trying to sowin my life that I was too late,
that I had missed my window,that all the you know, the guys
(07:29):
that were younger, and the hottechnology and the hot new
sounds and all that kind ofstuff that was going to be the
thing that God was going to useand I was somehow going to be
left out on the side, you know,out of the cold, not being able
to do the thing that God hadcalled me to do.
Listen, I don't know if you'refeeling like that, but I've been
doing this long enough and I'vebeen reading enough comments
(07:50):
here on YouTube and listening toartist stories in the mentoring
room.
I know that many of you thatlisten to me, that are in our
mentoring program, that show upat conferences, that read the
books you're in your 40s, 50s,60s, 70s, some of you in your
40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, some of youin your 80s.
I mean, I love it, right, butyou, you can be thinking
sometimes, well, maybe that canwork for him, but I don't know
about me.
(08:10):
I kind of do feel like I'veI've missed it and I just want
to say with everything within metoday if god's done it in me,
he wants to do it in you, right?
God's not in the expirationbusiness just because you've
reached a certain age, justbecause you've retired, just
because you're not in theexpiration business, just
because you've reached a certainage, just because you've
retired, just because you're notdoing the creative thing that
you used to do.
And now maybe you're feelingthe leading to do another thing.
(08:32):
I want you to realize yourcreative calling absolutely has
no expiration date.
The same God that put it in youwhen he created you is the same
God that is bringing it, that'slighting it up right now,
that's inspiring it right now.
He's probably the same God thatled you to even watch this
YouTube video and listen to thispodcast and find out that, hey,
(08:54):
there's a whole movementglobally of artists who love
Jesus, who are all differentages and have a variety of
experiences and expressions, andwe're all linking arms together
to say whatever it is, god,whatever it is, for as long as
I'm here, in whatever way youwant me to, I'm in, I'm in.
I'm giving you my yes.
(09:15):
And so I want to give you somereal, practical things today
that I hope are going to reallyallow you to stand firm in who
you are, not only in Christ, butalso as an artist and in the
season of life you're in.
And I want to start with thebig truth and you know I love to
do that from God's word, and Iwant to start in Romans 11, 29.
(09:36):
And it says this in the New KingJames.
It says for the gifts of God.
For the gifts and the callingof God, rather, are irrevocable.
That means the calling of Godon your life as an artist and
the gifts and talents that he'sput inside you to do the thing
he called you to do, are notthings that can be taken away.
That is incredible.
(09:57):
God's not going to take awaythe gifts and callings that he's
given you.
They're in you, they're yours.
Now you and I get the choice ofwhat we're going to do with
those.
But that is really, really huge.
And I just think about you know.
Well, gosh, what about my age?
I mean, I'm going to get toknow my age is not done.
Revoke my calling?
Well, what about my?
(10:18):
What about my past?
I mean, I didn't do as well asI thought I could have in that
last season.
No, that didn't.
That didn't disqualify me fromhaving this calling and this and
these talents.
Well, what about?
What about the opportunity thatI didn't take advantage of it,
whatever?
No, that didn't.
That didn't disqualify you.
That doesn't disqualify you.
Your gifts and callings areirrevocable.
In other words, they've been inyou from the beginning.
(10:39):
They're going to be with you, Ibelieve, through all eternity,
because creativity doesn't end.
Creativity is how the kingdomof God works.
Right.
We see and agree with heaven.
We release those things that heshows us in the spirit and in
our imagination and in thecreative realm through our hands
and through the work of ourlife, and we're going to be
doing that forever.
I believe that's just a part ofhow the kingdom works, and so
(11:04):
just get this in your heart.
This is not something that'sgoing away, right, and as much
as the enemy wants to try toconvince you that they're going
away or that you're disqualifiedor that you missed your
opportunity, that is not thetruth.
Think about Moses.
Oh, my gosh, he was 80 yearsold when the Lord called him out
of that kind of wildernessseason to lead Israel out of
(11:27):
bondage.
Think about Sarah, when she was90.
Anybody 90 out there 80s and90s watching this video I don't
know if you are or not, but Ithink that's awesome.
She was 90, right when she gavebirth to Isaac.
Wow, remember grandma Moses?
Many, a lot of people talkabout grandma Moses.
She's one of the incrediblepainters of the you know 20th
(11:51):
century incredible story.
She didn't start painting tillshe was nearly 80.
And by the time she died, andeven now her work is in museums
all over the world.
She had great, great impact andinfluence as an artist, a
really celebrated artist, butdidn't start until she was
almost 80 years old.
Or think about have you everheard of Bill Traylor?
Bill Traylor is one of thepreeminent folk artists in the
(12:15):
United States, grew up as anenslaved man but started drawing
in his 80s and guess what?
Now one of the great,celebrated American folk artists
.
So I'm just telling you.
The point is this right, god'stiming is not our timing.
The way God's story gets workedout through your life and my
(12:36):
life.
We have a part of that, sure,but this is God's story gets
worked out through your life andmy life.
We have a part of that, sure,but this is God's story and he's
invited us to be a part of it.
And so I just want you to getinto your mind today, into your
spirit.
Maybe you need to pause thisvideo or just say to yourself
I'm not too late, I'm not toolate, god's got plans and
purposes for me.
(12:56):
Jeremiah 29 and 11, right, Ihave plans for you, says the
Lord.
Plans to prosper you and not toharm you, to give you a hope
and a future that has noexpiration date.
Come on somebody, you just needto encourage yourself.
Part of maturing in the Lord islearning to encourage yourself
in the Lord, because I don'tknow about you, but I've lived
(13:19):
long enough and I've walked inthis thing with the Lord enough
to realize that all of hell andall the demons and powers and
principalities are workingovertime to try to get me to
disconnect and try to get you todisconnect with the things that
God has promised us in his wordand the design he's implanted
in our life.
And so the Holy Spirit isliving in you, but he's looking
(13:40):
for your agreement and part ofyou, I believe, being here today
, listening to this, watchingthis, looking me in the eyes and
me telling you you are not over, you're not too late, god is
not done with you.
You taking hold of that andsaying yes to that in your heart
and then doing something aboutit.
That is a major part of howyou're going to begin to walk by
(14:00):
faith and actually see thiscreative calling begin to
manifest in your life.
So I want to give you someencouragement, some practical
encouragement on this today.
Number one, I want to say thisyour season and the seasons that
you've been in.
They prepare you, they don'tdisqualify you.
You know the enemy always wantsto say oh, all the trials that
(14:23):
you've been through, all thecareers paths that you took, all
the the life things that you'vebeen through, they disqualify.
But no, no, no, no, no, no, no,no.
God's working every good thingtogether for your good.
All of those become thisbeautiful sort of raw materials
right In God's hands to releasehis creative nature through your
life in a way that nobody elsecould ever do it.
(14:45):
Can I just tell you that,because of the things that
you've been through in your life, because of the difficulties
that you've walked through andseeing God's faithfulness,
because of the jobs you've had,the skills you've developed and
the way you've learned to seelife and hear God and have
empathy for others, and all thethings, those are the very
(15:05):
things that God wants to use inthis season to make your
creative calling even moreimpactful, even more rich.
And so quit allowing the devilto talk you out of why those
things are important.
Man, listen, that's your secretsauce.
Those are the things that Godwants to use the most in your
life.
They're preparing you.
Number two, I would say thisfaithfulness, your faithfulness,
(15:30):
my faithfulness matters morethan your speed.
Faithfulness matters more thanspeed.
You know what faithfulnesscomes from.
It comes from day in and dayout, season in and season out,
fruitful seasons, winter seasons, planting seasons, harvest
seasons.
It comes from just walkingdaily with the Lord, not in this
(15:53):
kind of hustle and grindmentality, if you will, or this
comparison culture trying tokeep up with or compare yourself
with everybody else.
Listen, that mess is from thepit of hell.
That has nothing to do withGod's best for your life, much
less your identity in Christ.
And so you got to realize, right, john 15, we know vine and the
branches.
Jesus tells a great story.
(16:13):
Go read that if you've not readthat.
But you know he says I'm thevine, you're the branches.
Jesus tells a great story.
Go read that if you've not readthat.
But you know he says I'm thevine, you're the branches, apart
from me, what you can do,nothing, right, you can do
nothing.
And so the only way to getfruitfulness in your life is not
trying harder, is not hustlingand grinding, is not comparing
yourself, is not trying to getout there and be some artist
(16:35):
that you're not designed to be.
The only way the Bible says toget fruitfulness to come forth
in your life.
That is impact and influenceand fruit that remains lasting
impact, lasting fulfillment.
The only way it comes, the onlyway faithfulness in your
relationship with the Lord,faithfulness to the thing that
(16:56):
he's called you to in your life.
When you do that, god begins toaccelerate and multiply your
creative gift in the work ofyour hands and the pastor of
your heart, more than you couldever do by yourself.
All right, number next.
God is the one who multipliesyour impact, not you, if you're
(17:18):
somebody.
I know a lot of people.
When they get to, I'll say, ourage I don't know how old you
are watching this, but a lot ofpeople, when they get into their
fifties, sixties, seventies,eighties, their heart begins to
turn to legacy and to impact andbe like wow, this has come
around a lot quicker than Ithought it was.
(17:38):
I only have maybe X amount ofyears left.
I want my life to count andlisten.
While I think that is anincredible viewpoint to have,
the enemy can turn that intopressure and turn it into this
pressure cooker of saying you'retoo late, you're not fast
enough, you're never going toget it.
You better get with it.
(17:58):
You better do it this way.
You better do it that way.
You better buy this course allthe stuff right and trying to
get it.
You better get with it.
You better do it this way.
You better do it that way.
You better buy this course.
You go all the stuff right andtrying to get you to just get
out there and try to do it onyour own.
But listen, even if I don'tcare if you're, if you hadn't
picked up a paintbrush or apiece of clay, or if you hadn't
picked up a crochet needle orwhatever it is that you do, I
don't care.
(18:19):
I don't care if you've notplayed your instrument for for
the last 25 years.
If you will start right now,god can restore the years that
the locusts have eaten.
He can accelerate in you whatwould have taken decades in
other people's lives, just inthe natural.
Listen, I remember when I movedto Asheville back in 2009, and I
(18:44):
was just like you are right nowI was just trying to hear God's
voice say yes to my creativecalling.
When I moved to Asheville and Istarted just saying yes and I
started, I was leading worshipat a church.
I started doing my baskets morefaithfully.
I applied to the SouthernHighland Craft Guild, which is a
really prestigious craft guild,started getting in shows,
(19:05):
started selling my work.
All this and I mean within acouple of years.
Within two years, I gotrecognized as an American artist
under 40 by the Smithsonian'sAmerican Art Museum, the Renwick
Gallery, and all this favorstarted coming in my life.
And I remember friends of minethat had been professional
(19:25):
artists, you know for much, muchlonger than I had been, and who
were believers, and they werecoming up to me like, dude, what
are you doing?
Like, how are you making thishappen?
And I'm like I don't know howto tell you other than I'm just
telling you I am not making thishappen.
I couldn't have made thishappen.
This is so much bigger andbetter and wider and broader and
(19:45):
more influential and impactfulthan I could have ever come up
with myself.
It's God, it's my faithfulnessto just say yes, and I'm not
saying that to celebrate me.
I'm just trying to share thatwith you as a principle, that
it's your faithfulness thatconnects you with the favor of
God, and God's the one, god'sthe one that multiplies our
(20:09):
impact and brings the lastingfruit in our life.
All right, now I want to giveyou five things today and if
you've heard me talk aboutrenewing your mind, this is the
perfect, perfect application fora renewing your mind moment in
something that I developedcalled the five R's for renewing
(20:30):
your mind.
Because, again, the issue isnot has God pulled my calling
away from me?
Have I missed my turn?
No, that's not the issue.
We already established that.
The issue is am I going toagree or are you going to agree
with the lies of the enemy thatare trying to keep you down and
keep you pushed out of and keepyou from the good things that
(20:50):
God has for you in your life asan artist?
And so we're going to use thefive R's quickly, as we kind of
wrap this up today, to give youa framework to start to renew
your mind toward this incrediblepossibility, in reality, that
God's not done with yourcreative calling.
All right, the first thing thatwe do in uh, you know, the five
(21:11):
R's is recognizing All right,and again, we're trying to
recognize the voice of the Lordversus the voice of the enemy.
So when you're sitting thereand you're hearing these lies
which they are lies there, andyou're hearing these lies, which
they are lies, when you'rehearing these, thoughts come
into your brain that say it'stoo late, I've missed my chance,
(21:31):
I'm disqualified, I'm no good,I could never do that.
I missed all this kind of stuff.
What you've got to do is grabthat.
The Bible says that we takeevery thought captive that
throws itself up against theknowledge of God.
Right, we take it captive, wegrab it.
We say, hey, does that soundlike Jesus?
In other words, does that soundlike something that Jesus would
(21:52):
say to me?
Would Jesus say to me yep, youmissed it.
Yep, you could have done itlast week, but not now.
You missed it, it's over, it'sover, you suck.
Does that sound like Jesus?
No, it doesn't sound like Jesus.
So you grab that and you startcomparing it with scripture.
Scripture says what Romans 11,29,.
His gifts and callings areirrevocable.
(22:13):
So you realize this is a liefrom the enemy.
Now number two is reallyimportant.
First is recognize.
Second is repent.
What does repent mean?
Repent just means to changeyour mind.
Right, to change your mind andto go in a different direction.
And here's the deal.
If you have been believing andentertaining that lie in your
(22:36):
life for a long time, guess what?
This is maybe a wake-up callfor you.
But that thing has taken rootinside of you and that thing has
produced emotions and fears andanxiety and ways of looking at
yourself and art and what'spossible and the season of life
you're in.
It is framed because of youragreement with that lie.
It has framed everything, theway that you think and the way
(23:00):
that you see your life andwhat's possible and your calling
.
And so repentance is necessarybecause you have to say hey, in
the name of Jesus, I come out ofagreement with this lie that
says it's too late, that I'vemissed my chance, that I'm too
old, that I've missed my calling.
I come out of agreement withthat, in Jesus' name, and I
(23:21):
declare that my creative callingis alive and well within me.
I agree, in Jesus' name, thatmy best days of creativity are
ahead.
What are you doing?
You're coming out of agreementwith the enemy, you're closing
the door and you're coming intoagreement with the Lord.
Now, number three one, two,three agreement with the Lord.
(23:44):
Now, number three one, two,three.
Number three is this we replacethe lie of the enemy with the
truth of God's word.
And so that's when what we justdid, you know.
I come out of agreement withthat and I declare this.
And so, whatever scripture,whatever promise, whatever God's
speaking to your heart at thatmoment you begin to declare that
every time, number four is isreinforced.
Every time then the enemy comesat you with that same old lie oh
(24:07):
yeah, you're not.
You're not as old, you're notas young as you used to be, not
as spry, you know, you're notgreat at technology, older
people are not great attechnology, and all that.
You grab that thing by the neckand you say, nope, I don't
believe that.
And if I have, I come out ofagreement with, in the name of
Jesus, god, I'm sowing the truthof God's word that he who began
a good work in me is faithfulto complete it even to the day
(24:31):
of Christ Jesus.
You've got good plans for methat my calling is without.
It cannot be revoked.
My gifts cannot be revoked and,god, I stand in those today,
knowing that as I do, you're theone that's going to multiply my
efforts and accelerate me intoeverything that you have for me.
Now.
I didn't read that off ofsomething that just came out of
the overflow of my heart.
(24:52):
But listen, that's what happens.
That's what happens when youstart to sow the word of God in
your life and you become out ofagreement with the lies of the
enemy and into agreement withthe word of God in your life.
And you become out of agreementwith the lies of the enemy and
into agreement with the truth ofGod, who says who you are out
of his word.
And so, every time the enemycomes, you got to recognize,
repent, replace, reinforce.
Number five rejoice.
(25:13):
What is that?
Every day that you get up, youneed to start training yourself.
When you get up, listen, whenyour feet touch the floor, just
take a deep breath.
Thank you, god, that I'm anartist.
Thank you, jesus, for thisseason of my life.
Thank you that I haveeverything that I need for life
(25:33):
and godliness.
Thank you, today is going to bea great day, god.
I open my eyes and I open myears to hear and to see
everything that you have for me.
God, awaken my spirit today.
Awaken my imagination, empowermy hands, lord, to cooperate
with you as I create.
Thank you, god, that my bestdays are ahead.
What are you doing?
You're just.
(25:54):
Every day, you're rejoicing inthe new reality that is yours in
Christ.
Now, listen, I just want to tellyou this is something that God
is not going to do.
To you I can't say lay yourhand on the screen, I'm going to
(26:17):
pray for you and everything'sgoing to change.
I can't do that, right, butwhat I'm trying to do is lead
you into a kingdom pattern ofliving, because, renewing your
mind and getting faith for theseason that you're in and what
God wants to do in your liferight now, guess what?
That's something that God doeswith you as you lean into this
process with intentionality.
All right, now, as you do that,guess what?
(26:40):
When you lean in, god's gracegets released.
And when God's grace getsreleased, you get empowered, you
get energized and are able towalk in every good thing that
he's called you to do.
Listen, I want to pray for youtoday, friend, because I believe
that listen, if you're stillbreathing, if you're still
(27:00):
clicking buttons on your phoneor your computer or your iPad
and you're watching this videoor listening to this podcast,
god is not done with you.
And listen, if you need tolisten to this episode again 100
times until it starts to takeroot in your life, I just want
to encourage you to do it.
All right, tell me in thecomments what's God saying to
(27:20):
you?
All right, what's waking upinside of you that maybe has
been dormant.
Maybe there's a dream insideyou that you thought was dead.
Maybe there's a passion insideof you that you've kind of just
you put away because you thoughtthose things were over in your
life.
I just believe, right now, bythe Holy spirit, he's waking
those things up right now.
In fact, holy Spirit, I thankyou right now that, even as
(27:42):
people are watching andlistening to this all over the
world, lord, god, I thank youthat you, by your Spirit, god,
your Spirit, doesn't know timeor space.
You're way beyond that.
And so, holy Spirit, I thankyou right now that you are, by
your Spirit, waking up andre-energizing, reawakening,
recalling people to your designfor their life, reminding them
(28:06):
of the gifts and callings thatyou put inside of them, that are
without repentance, that cannotbe revoked in their life, that
are theirs.
God, thank you that you'redrawing us back to who you
originally made us to be, withevery promise of provision and
protection and imagination andideas and opportunities and
(28:28):
resources and relationships, allthe stuff that we need.
God, thank you that this isyour story and that we just get
to say yes to it.
God, I thank you for anawakening spirit right now.
Awakening spirit right now tocome over, my friend, to well up
inside of them.
Lord, that Holy Spirit, youdwell up inside of them right
now and bring them back to lifein Jesus name, in Jesus name,
(28:55):
amen.
Hey, listen, my friend, thankyou for being with me today.
If you're looking for some toolsto make this journey a lot more
helpful, a lot easier for you,I want to tell you about two in
particular.
One is our Core 4 Focus Planner.
It's a daily planner where weactually lead you through this
process that I'm teaching youabout of learning to renew your
(29:15):
mind.
The Core 4, for us, is aprocess I developed.
It's connect with God every day, clarify what you're doing with
him, create in the studio andcultivate relationships with the
people that matter in your life, whether you're fans, followers
, clients, partners, whoeverthat is.
We walk you through planningout your 90 day goals, your year
vision and then, step by step,every day, with scriptural
(29:38):
encouragement and with thisframework that we developed, we
walk you through this process ofstaying focused in the things
that God's called you to do.
Also, I'm sure you've heard, butif you've not heard, about our
Foundations course.
It's changing the lives ofthousands of artists all over
the world.
It's probably, I think, one ofthe most effective things that
(29:58):
we've ever done.
You can go to find out allabout Foundations.
It's a nine-week course wherewe bring healing the heart,
renewing your mind, developinghabits to grow as an artist
who's pursuing your creativecalling, all within the context
of daily art projects that allowyou to engage your faith and
(30:18):
your relationship with the Lordin your art so that that becomes
the vehicle through which theHoly Spirit leads you and helps
you grow.
You can find out both of thoseright here.
The link for those is in theshow notes and in the
description here on YouTube andyou can find that and I hope
that you'll get both of thoseresources Lots of people have
and continue to let us walk withyou on the journey that you're
(30:40):
on.
My friend, I love you Again.
Make sure you're subscribed,make sure you join us every time
here on the Thriving ChristianArtist so that we can continue
to inspire and equip you ineverything that God's called you
to do.
And remember until next timeyou were created to thrive.
Bye, hey, my friend, before yougo, make sure that you're
signed up for the ThrivingChristian Artist Weekly.
(31:00):
Hey, my friend, before you go,make sure that you're signed up
for the Thriving ChristianArtist Weekly.
It's my free newsletter, fullof spiritual encouragement,
creative inspiration andpractical tips to help you
thrive in everything that God'scalled you to do as an artist in
his kingdom.
Every issue is absolutely freeand it includes the latest
podcast episode, featured artistspotlights, a worship song of
the week and, again, tons oftips and encouragement and
inspiration for you to keep youinspired and encouraged, and
(31:23):
everything that God's got foryou as an artist in the kingdom.
You can click the link righthere in the show notes to join
us, and it's a great way to stayconnected.
All right, love you, bye.
Do you ever feel like it's too late to pursue the
creative calling that God's putinto your life?
Maybe you feel like you know,gosh, I'm too old, life got in
the way, or I missed my window,or look at all these other
people doing it.
I could never do that now inthis season of my life.
Listen, I just want to bustinto the middle of that today
and let you know that, listen,god knows exactly where you are.
The gift of God that he's putinside of you does not expire.
(00:23):
The gift of God that he's putinside of you does not expire,
and I'm going to give you somepractical tips today on how you
can start exploring and steppinginto the very creative calling
that God has for your life.
Today, here, on the ThrivingChristian Artist, all of the
world artists are awakeningpainters and potters, writers
and weavers, poets and dancersnot chasing followers or fame,
but sons and daughters calledfor such a time as this,
(00:45):
transformed from the inside out,creating with purpose,
releasing the glory of God andliving in the power of the
kingdom.
Right now, this is the ThrivingChristian Artist.
Well, hey, my friend, welcometo the Thriving Christian Artist
.
Whether it's your first time,first time in a long time or
whether you're a regularlistener and viewer here to us,
(01:06):
super glad that you are here.
Everything we do here is allabout raising up an army of
artists to reveal God's glory inthe earth, about equipping you
and inspiring you to be all anddo all and have all that God's
got for you as an artist in hiskingdom, and so I'm super, super
glad that you're here.
Make sure that you hit thesubscribe button if you're here
on YouTube, as well, as leave mesome comments.
(01:28):
As we're chatting togethertoday, I'd love to know what
God's saying to you, as I'msharing, hopefully, things that
are inspirational and reallyeducational for you, to
encourage you to step intoeverything that God's got for
you.
Wherever you are in your artjourney, whether you're just
starting out or whether you'vebeen doing this for a hundred
years, like me.
It seems like so well, hey,listen, you know those of you
(01:49):
that know me.
I know that I've been mentoringartists now for a lot of years,
been a professional artist forover 30 years, been mentoring
artists since gosh, since 2009.
And I've seen a lot of storiesand I've seen a lot of things
that can inspire and moveartists forward, and I've seen a
lot of things that can paralyzeartists, and one of the things
(02:11):
that I've been privy to see in alot of people's lives is
something that they don't talkabout.
A lot can kind of beembarrassing, and it's this idea
of gosh.
I do feel like I'm talented andI do feel like God wants to do
something through my life, but Ijust feel like I've missed my
chance, like I'm too old, likeI'm not with it enough, like my
art's not good enough anymore,like somehow we get this idea in
(02:34):
our mind that our calling as anartist has expired and
hopefully today is going to helpyou bust through that and
realize that is not at all God'sbest for you and not the truth.
In fact, as I was getting readyfor this today, I started
thinking about, you know, my ownjourney.
I'm 51 now as I as I recordthis, and I'll be 52 actually
next month.
(02:54):
It's getting here closer thanthat, I want to admit.
But I can remember, you know,when I first got out of college
and was leading worship.
That was kind of what I wasknown for.
I was doing my baskets and myart as a hobby, but I was
getting paid for doingprofessionally and I was writing
music and recording and doing,you know, leading worship and
(03:15):
just loved that.
And I don't know if you've everbeen in that kind of world
before, but there is a.
Even in the church maybe,especially in the church, there
could be a real kind of hustlementality about that and it's
sort of.
I remember one of the pastorsthat I was friends with.
He talked about the anointingof new.
That you know, if it was new,it was anointed.
If it was new, if it was fresh,that was obviously the best
(03:35):
thing.
And obviously we know that thatcan be a lot of immaturity now
to even think like that.
But back as a young man comingout of college and pursuing
leading worship and all thethings that I felt like God had
for me, man, I really felt thatpressure and I remember I served
several churches and then weended up going through a big
(03:56):
church split crazy thing.
Maybe you've gone throughsomething like that before and I
stepped out of ministry for aseason and that's when I had our
graphic design and web designbusiness back in Atlanta and you
know I was going through ahealing journey doing all the
stuff.
You know we started a familyand just were doing the things
that we were called to do inthat season and I was doing my
(04:18):
baskets really as a hobby andnever really, you know, thought
about competition from thatstandpoint.
Or, you know, I was in mythirties at this point, so I'm
like I was just doing what Iloved and and really didn't,
wasn't thinking about it interms of any income or or impact
or anything.
But, man, I remember when Ibegan to think about, well, lord
(04:39):
, are you calling me back intoministry, are you calling me
back into, you know, out of thishealing journey that I've been
walking through, and back intovocational ministry and was
talking with my pastor andeverything like, what does that
look like?
You know, I remember one of thethings that really hit me
strongly and again, I wasprobably late thirties, I don't
(04:59):
know, I'm not good at mathnecessarily, so this is, this
was like 2007, eight, right inthere.
I'm born in 73.
You do the math, so, but Iremember thinking, oh my gosh,
I'm not.
I'm not with all the new musicand all this technology has come
out and I don't think I'm.
I don't think I'm what churchesare looking for and can I do
(05:21):
this and all this sort of thing.
And, man, there was a lot offear just around.
Have I missed my window?
And you know, in the middle ofthat the Lord was so faithful to
say not only do I have acalling for your life, not only
is this creativity that I put inyou something that's from me,
not just something that youthink is a little side idea, but
(05:44):
I've got a whole new expressionof your creativity in this
season that you don't even knowabout yet, and I'm going to use
it in ways that you don't evenexpect.
And so, if you know anythingabout my story or read any of my
books, especially in Unlockingthe Heart of the Artist, I talk
a lot about this.
You know, god began to justunfold this incredible vision
(06:05):
for my life and ministry and myart, which had really very
little to do with the creativeexpression that I'd done up
until this point, which had beenleading worship and music, and
all that.
Up until that point, I thoughtof myself as primarily a
musician.
When God called me to raise upan army of artists, I thought
about it primarily in terms ofthe performing arts.
(06:26):
Little did I know that in themiddle of that he said no, no,
he said they're going to be someof them that come along and you
may be one of those peopletoday, and I'm glad you're here.
And I'm still a musician.
I've right here in my, in mystudios, my piano.
I'm leading worship for myselfevery day, just in my own quiet
time, and I still lead worshipat conferences and in church and
all the stuff.
(06:46):
I love that.
But the Lord said, no, I'm goingto do something different.
I'm going to take this thingthat's always been a love and a
passion of yours your basketsand I'm going to turn that into
the primary vehicle of not onlyyour artistic expression but
also your creative calling inthe kingdom.
And man, when he did that, Ijust thought, wow, this doesn't
(07:09):
make any sense.
But you know, here's the coolthing.
The cool thing that it did isit broke the back of that lie
that I was, I guess, believingin my life at that point and I
know the enemy was trying to sowin my life that I was too late,
that I had missed my window,that all the you know, the guys
(07:29):
that were younger, and the hottechnology and the hot new
sounds and all that kind ofstuff that was going to be the
thing that God was going to useand I was somehow going to be
left out on the side, you know,out of the cold, not being able
to do the thing that God hadcalled me to do.
Listen, I don't know if you'refeeling like that, but I've been
doing this long enough and I'vebeen reading enough comments
(07:50):
here on YouTube and listening toartist stories in the mentoring
room.
I know that many of you thatlisten to me, that are in our
mentoring program, that show upat conferences, that read the
books you're in your 40s, 50s,60s, 70s, some of you in your
40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, some of youin your 80s.
I mean, I love it, right, butyou, you can be thinking
sometimes, well, maybe that canwork for him, but I don't know
about me.
(08:10):
I kind of do feel like I'veI've missed it and I just want
to say with everything within metoday if god's done it in me,
he wants to do it in you, right?
God's not in the expirationbusiness just because you've
reached a certain age, justbecause you've retired, just
because you're not in theexpiration business, just
because you've reached a certainage, just because you've
retired, just because you're notdoing the creative thing that
you used to do.
And now maybe you're feelingthe leading to do another thing.
(08:32):
I want you to realize yourcreative calling absolutely has
no expiration date.
The same God that put it in youwhen he created you is the same
God that is bringing it, that'slighting it up right now,
that's inspiring it right now.
He's probably the same God thatled you to even watch this
YouTube video and listen to thispodcast and find out that, hey,
(08:54):
there's a whole movementglobally of artists who love
Jesus, who are all differentages and have a variety of
experiences and expressions, andwe're all linking arms together
to say whatever it is, god,whatever it is, for as long as
I'm here, in whatever way youwant me to, I'm in, I'm in.
I'm giving you my yes.
(09:15):
And so I want to give you somereal, practical things today
that I hope are going to reallyallow you to stand firm in who
you are, not only in Christ, butalso as an artist and in the
season of life you're in.
And I want to start with thebig truth and you know I love to
do that from God's word, and Iwant to start in Romans 11, 29.
(09:36):
And it says this in the New KingJames.
It says for the gifts of God.
For the gifts and the callingof God, rather, are irrevocable.
That means the calling of Godon your life as an artist and
the gifts and talents that he'sput inside you to do the thing
he called you to do, are notthings that can be taken away.
That is incredible.
(09:57):
God's not going to take awaythe gifts and callings that he's
given you.
They're in you, they're yours.
Now you and I get the choice ofwhat we're going to do with
those.
But that is really, really huge.
And I just think about you know.
Well, gosh, what about my age?
I mean, I'm going to get toknow my age is not done.
Revoke my calling?
Well, what about my?
(10:18):
What about my past?
I mean, I didn't do as well asI thought I could have in that
last season.
No, that didn't.
That didn't disqualify me fromhaving this calling and this and
these talents.
Well, what about?
What about the opportunity thatI didn't take advantage of it,
whatever?
No, that didn't.
That didn't disqualify you.
That doesn't disqualify you.
Your gifts and callings areirrevocable.
In other words, they've been inyou from the beginning.
(10:39):
They're going to be with you, Ibelieve, through all eternity,
because creativity doesn't end.
Creativity is how the kingdomof God works.
Right.
We see and agree with heaven.
We release those things that heshows us in the spirit and in
our imagination and in thecreative realm through our hands
and through the work of ourlife, and we're going to be
doing that forever.
I believe that's just a part ofhow the kingdom works, and so
(11:04):
just get this in your heart.
This is not something that'sgoing away, right, and as much
as the enemy wants to try toconvince you that they're going
away or that you're disqualifiedor that you missed your
opportunity, that is not thetruth.
Think about Moses.
Oh, my gosh, he was 80 yearsold when the Lord called him out
of that kind of wildernessseason to lead Israel out of
(11:27):
bondage.
Think about Sarah, when she was90.
Anybody 90 out there 80s and90s watching this video I don't
know if you are or not, but Ithink that's awesome.
She was 90, right when she gavebirth to Isaac.
Wow, remember grandma Moses?
Many, a lot of people talkabout grandma Moses.
She's one of the incrediblepainters of the you know 20th
(11:51):
century incredible story.
She didn't start painting tillshe was nearly 80.
And by the time she died, andeven now her work is in museums
all over the world.
She had great, great impact andinfluence as an artist, a
really celebrated artist, butdidn't start until she was
almost 80 years old.
Or think about have you everheard of Bill Traylor?
Bill Traylor is one of thepreeminent folk artists in the
(12:15):
United States, grew up as anenslaved man but started drawing
in his 80s and guess what?
Now one of the great,celebrated American folk artists
.
So I'm just telling you.
The point is this right, god'stiming is not our timing.
The way God's story gets workedout through your life and my
(12:36):
life.
We have a part of that, sure,but this is God's story gets
worked out through your life andmy life.
We have a part of that, sure,but this is God's story and he's
invited us to be a part of it.
And so I just want you to getinto your mind today, into your
spirit.
Maybe you need to pause thisvideo or just say to yourself
I'm not too late, I'm not toolate, god's got plans and
purposes for me.
(12:56):
Jeremiah 29 and 11, right, Ihave plans for you, says the
Lord.
Plans to prosper you and not toharm you, to give you a hope
and a future that has noexpiration date.
Come on somebody, you just needto encourage yourself.
Part of maturing in the Lord islearning to encourage yourself
in the Lord, because I don'tknow about you, but I've lived
(13:19):
long enough and I've walked inthis thing with the Lord enough
to realize that all of hell andall the demons and powers and
principalities are workingovertime to try to get me to
disconnect and try to get you todisconnect with the things that
God has promised us in his wordand the design he's implanted
in our life.
And so the Holy Spirit isliving in you, but he's looking
(13:40):
for your agreement and part ofyou, I believe, being here today
, listening to this, watchingthis, looking me in the eyes and
me telling you you are not over, you're not too late, god is
not done with you.
You taking hold of that andsaying yes to that in your heart
and then doing something aboutit.
That is a major part of howyou're going to begin to walk by
(14:00):
faith and actually see thiscreative calling begin to
manifest in your life.
So I want to give you someencouragement, some practical
encouragement on this today.
Number one, I want to say thisyour season and the seasons that
you've been in.
They prepare you, they don'tdisqualify you.
You know the enemy always wantsto say oh, all the trials that
(14:23):
you've been through, all thecareers paths that you took, all
the the life things that you'vebeen through, they disqualify.
But no, no, no, no, no, no, no,no.
God's working every good thingtogether for your good.
All of those become thisbeautiful sort of raw materials
right In God's hands to releasehis creative nature through your
life in a way that nobody elsecould ever do it.
(14:45):
Can I just tell you that,because of the things that
you've been through in your life, because of the difficulties
that you've walked through andseeing God's faithfulness,
because of the jobs you've had,the skills you've developed and
the way you've learned to seelife and hear God and have
empathy for others, and all thethings, those are the very
(15:05):
things that God wants to use inthis season to make your
creative calling even moreimpactful, even more rich.
And so quit allowing the devilto talk you out of why those
things are important.
Man, listen, that's your secretsauce.
Those are the things that Godwants to use the most in your
life.
They're preparing you.
Number two, I would say thisfaithfulness, your faithfulness,
(15:30):
my faithfulness matters morethan your speed.
Faithfulness matters more thanspeed.
You know what faithfulnesscomes from.
It comes from day in and dayout, season in and season out,
fruitful seasons, winter seasons, planting seasons, harvest
seasons.
It comes from just walkingdaily with the Lord, not in this
(15:53):
kind of hustle and grindmentality, if you will, or this
comparison culture trying tokeep up with or compare yourself
with everybody else.
Listen, that mess is from thepit of hell.
That has nothing to do withGod's best for your life, much
less your identity in Christ.
And so you got to realize, right, john 15, we know vine and the
branches.
Jesus tells a great story.
(16:13):
Go read that if you've not readthat.
But you know he says I'm thevine, you're the branches.
Jesus tells a great story.
Go read that if you've not readthat.
But you know he says I'm thevine, you're the branches, apart
from me, what you can do,nothing, right, you can do
nothing.
And so the only way to getfruitfulness in your life is not
trying harder, is not hustlingand grinding, is not comparing
yourself, is not trying to getout there and be some artist
(16:35):
that you're not designed to be.
The only way the Bible says toget fruitfulness to come forth
in your life.
That is impact and influenceand fruit that remains lasting
impact, lasting fulfillment.
The only way it comes, the onlyway faithfulness in your
relationship with the Lord,faithfulness to the thing that
(16:56):
he's called you to in your life.
When you do that, god begins toaccelerate and multiply your
creative gift in the work ofyour hands and the pastor of
your heart, more than you couldever do by yourself.
All right, number next.
God is the one who multipliesyour impact, not you, if you're
(17:18):
somebody.
I know a lot of people.
When they get to, I'll say, ourage I don't know how old you
are watching this, but a lot ofpeople, when they get into their
fifties, sixties, seventies,eighties, their heart begins to
turn to legacy and to impact andbe like wow, this has come
around a lot quicker than Ithought it was.
(17:38):
I only have maybe X amount ofyears left.
I want my life to count andlisten.
While I think that is anincredible viewpoint to have,
the enemy can turn that intopressure and turn it into this
pressure cooker of saying you'retoo late, you're not fast
enough, you're never going toget it.
You better get with it.
(17:58):
You better do it this way.
You better do it that way.
You better buy this course allthe stuff right and trying to
get it.
You better get with it.
You better do it this way.
You better do it that way.
You better buy this course.
You go all the stuff right andtrying to get you to just get
out there and try to do it onyour own.
But listen, even if I don'tcare if you're, if you hadn't
picked up a paintbrush or apiece of clay, or if you hadn't
picked up a crochet needle orwhatever it is that you do, I
don't care.
(18:19):
I don't care if you've notplayed your instrument for for
the last 25 years.
If you will start right now,god can restore the years that
the locusts have eaten.
He can accelerate in you whatwould have taken decades in
other people's lives, just inthe natural.
Listen, I remember when I movedto Asheville back in 2009, and I
(18:44):
was just like you are right nowI was just trying to hear God's
voice say yes to my creativecalling.
When I moved to Asheville and Istarted just saying yes and I
started, I was leading worshipat a church.
I started doing my baskets morefaithfully.
I applied to the SouthernHighland Craft Guild, which is a
really prestigious craft guild,started getting in shows,
(19:05):
started selling my work.
All this and I mean within acouple of years.
Within two years, I gotrecognized as an American artist
under 40 by the Smithsonian'sAmerican Art Museum, the Renwick
Gallery, and all this favorstarted coming in my life.
And I remember friends of minethat had been professional
(19:25):
artists, you know for much, muchlonger than I had been, and who
were believers, and they werecoming up to me like, dude, what
are you doing?
Like, how are you making thishappen?
And I'm like I don't know howto tell you other than I'm just
telling you I am not making thishappen.
I couldn't have made thishappen.
This is so much bigger andbetter and wider and broader and
(19:45):
more influential and impactfulthan I could have ever come up
with myself.
It's God, it's my faithfulnessto just say yes, and I'm not
saying that to celebrate me.
I'm just trying to share thatwith you as a principle, that
it's your faithfulness thatconnects you with the favor of
God, and God's the one, god'sthe one that multiplies our
(20:09):
impact and brings the lastingfruit in our life.
All right, now I want to giveyou five things today and if
you've heard me talk aboutrenewing your mind, this is the
perfect, perfect application fora renewing your mind moment in
something that I developedcalled the five R's for renewing
(20:30):
your mind.
Because, again, the issue isnot has God pulled my calling
away from me?
Have I missed my turn?
No, that's not the issue.
We already established that.
The issue is am I going toagree or are you going to agree
with the lies of the enemy thatare trying to keep you down and
keep you pushed out of and keepyou from the good things that
(20:50):
God has for you in your life asan artist?
And so we're going to use thefive R's quickly, as we kind of
wrap this up today, to give youa framework to start to renew
your mind toward this incrediblepossibility, in reality, that
God's not done with yourcreative calling.
All right, the first thing thatwe do in uh, you know, the five
(21:11):
R's is recognizing All right,and again, we're trying to
recognize the voice of the Lordversus the voice of the enemy.
So when you're sitting thereand you're hearing these lies
which they are lies there, andyou're hearing these lies, which
they are lies, when you'rehearing these, thoughts come
into your brain that say it'stoo late, I've missed my chance,
(21:31):
I'm disqualified, I'm no good,I could never do that.
I missed all this kind of stuff.
What you've got to do is grabthat.
The Bible says that we takeevery thought captive that
throws itself up against theknowledge of God.
Right, we take it captive, wegrab it.
We say, hey, does that soundlike Jesus?
In other words, does that soundlike something that Jesus would
(21:52):
say to me?
Would Jesus say to me yep, youmissed it.
Yep, you could have done itlast week, but not now.
You missed it, it's over, it'sover, you suck.
Does that sound like Jesus?
No, it doesn't sound like Jesus.
So you grab that and you startcomparing it with scripture.
Scripture says what Romans 11,29,.
His gifts and callings areirrevocable.
(22:13):
So you realize this is a liefrom the enemy.
Now number two is reallyimportant.
First is recognize.
Second is repent.
What does repent mean?
Repent just means to changeyour mind.
Right, to change your mind andto go in a different direction.
And here's the deal.
If you have been believing andentertaining that lie in your
(22:36):
life for a long time, guess what?
This is maybe a wake-up callfor you.
But that thing has taken rootinside of you and that thing has
produced emotions and fears andanxiety and ways of looking at
yourself and art and what'spossible and the season of life
you're in.
It is framed because of youragreement with that lie.
It has framed everything, theway that you think and the way
(23:00):
that you see your life andwhat's possible and your calling
.
And so repentance is necessarybecause you have to say hey, in
the name of Jesus, I come out ofagreement with this lie that
says it's too late, that I'vemissed my chance, that I'm too
old, that I've missed my calling.
I come out of agreement withthat, in Jesus' name, and I
(23:21):
declare that my creative callingis alive and well within me.
I agree, in Jesus' name, thatmy best days of creativity are
ahead.
What are you doing?
You're coming out of agreementwith the enemy, you're closing
the door and you're coming intoagreement with the Lord.
Now, number three one, two,three agreement with the Lord.
(23:44):
Now, number three one, two,three.
Number three is this we replacethe lie of the enemy with the
truth of God's word.
And so that's when what we justdid, you know.
I come out of agreement withthat and I declare this.
And so, whatever scripture,whatever promise, whatever God's
speaking to your heart at thatmoment you begin to declare that
every time, number four is isreinforced.
Every time then the enemy comesat you with that same old lie oh
(24:07):
yeah, you're not.
You're not as old, you're notas young as you used to be, not
as spry, you know, you're notgreat at technology, older
people are not great attechnology, and all that.
You grab that thing by the neckand you say, nope, I don't
believe that.
And if I have, I come out ofagreement with, in the name of
Jesus, god, I'm sowing the truthof God's word that he who began
a good work in me is faithfulto complete it even to the day
(24:31):
of Christ Jesus.
You've got good plans for methat my calling is without.
It cannot be revoked.
My gifts cannot be revoked and,god, I stand in those today,
knowing that as I do, you're theone that's going to multiply my
efforts and accelerate me intoeverything that you have for me.
Now.
I didn't read that off ofsomething that just came out of
the overflow of my heart.
(24:52):
But listen, that's what happens.
That's what happens when youstart to sow the word of God in
your life and you become out ofagreement with the lies of the
enemy and into agreement withthe word of God in your life.
And you become out of agreementwith the lies of the enemy and
into agreement with the truth ofGod, who says who you are out
of his word.
And so, every time the enemycomes, you got to recognize,
repent, replace, reinforce.
Number five rejoice.
(25:13):
What is that?
Every day that you get up, youneed to start training yourself.
When you get up, listen, whenyour feet touch the floor, just
take a deep breath.
Thank you, god, that I'm anartist.
Thank you, jesus, for thisseason of my life.
Thank you that I haveeverything that I need for life
(25:33):
and godliness.
Thank you, today is going to bea great day, god.
I open my eyes and I open myears to hear and to see
everything that you have for me.
God, awaken my spirit today.
Awaken my imagination, empowermy hands, lord, to cooperate
with you as I create.
Thank you, god, that my bestdays are ahead.
What are you doing?
You're just.
(25:54):
Every day, you're rejoicing inthe new reality that is yours in
Christ.
Now, listen, I just want to tellyou this is something that God
is not going to do.
To you I can't say lay yourhand on the screen, I'm going to
(26:17):
pray for you and everything'sgoing to change.
I can't do that, right, butwhat I'm trying to do is lead
you into a kingdom pattern ofliving, because, renewing your
mind and getting faith for theseason that you're in and what
God wants to do in your liferight now, guess what?
That's something that God doeswith you as you lean into this
process with intentionality.
All right, now, as you do that,guess what?
(26:40):
When you lean in, god's gracegets released.
And when God's grace getsreleased, you get empowered, you
get energized and are able towalk in every good thing that
he's called you to do.
Listen, I want to pray for youtoday, friend, because I believe
that listen, if you're stillbreathing, if you're still
(27:00):
clicking buttons on your phoneor your computer or your iPad
and you're watching this videoor listening to this podcast,
god is not done with you.
And listen, if you need tolisten to this episode again 100
times until it starts to takeroot in your life, I just want
to encourage you to do it.
All right, tell me in thecomments what's God saying to
(27:20):
you?
All right, what's waking upinside of you that maybe has
been dormant.
Maybe there's a dream insideyou that you thought was dead.
Maybe there's a passion insideof you that you've kind of just
you put away because you thoughtthose things were over in your
life.
I just believe, right now, bythe Holy spirit, he's waking
those things up right now.
In fact, holy Spirit, I thankyou right now that, even as
(27:42):
people are watching andlistening to this all over the
world, lord, god, I thank youthat you, by your Spirit, god,
your Spirit, doesn't know timeor space.
You're way beyond that.
And so, holy Spirit, I thankyou right now that you are, by
your Spirit, waking up andre-energizing, reawakening,
recalling people to your designfor their life, reminding them
(28:06):
of the gifts and callings thatyou put inside of them, that are
without repentance, that cannotbe revoked in their life, that
are theirs.
God, thank you that you'redrawing us back to who you
originally made us to be, withevery promise of provision and
protection and imagination andideas and opportunities and
(28:28):
resources and relationships, allthe stuff that we need.
God, thank you that this isyour story and that we just get
to say yes to it.
God, I thank you for anawakening spirit right now.
Awakening spirit right now tocome over, my friend, to well up
inside of them.
Lord, that Holy Spirit, youdwell up inside of them right
now and bring them back to lifein Jesus name, in Jesus name,
(28:55):
amen.
Hey, listen, my friend, thankyou for being with me today.
If you're looking for some toolsto make this journey a lot more
helpful, a lot easier for you,I want to tell you about two in
particular.
One is our Core 4 Focus Planner.
It's a daily planner where weactually lead you through this
process that I'm teaching youabout of learning to renew your
(29:15):
mind.
The Core 4, for us, is aprocess I developed.
It's connect with God every day, clarify what you're doing with
him, create in the studio andcultivate relationships with the
people that matter in your life, whether you're fans, followers
, clients, partners, whoeverthat is.
We walk you through planningout your 90 day goals, your year
vision and then, step by step,every day, with scriptural
(29:38):
encouragement and with thisframework that we developed, we
walk you through this process ofstaying focused in the things
that God's called you to do.
Also, I'm sure you've heard, butif you've not heard, about our
Foundations course.
It's changing the lives ofthousands of artists all over
the world.
It's probably, I think, one ofthe most effective things that
(29:58):
we've ever done.
You can go to find out allabout Foundations.
It's a nine-week course wherewe bring healing the heart,
renewing your mind, developinghabits to grow as an artist
who's pursuing your creativecalling, all within the context
of daily art projects that allowyou to engage your faith and
(30:18):
your relationship with the Lordin your art so that that becomes
the vehicle through which theHoly Spirit leads you and helps
you grow.
You can find out both of thoseright here.
The link for those is in theshow notes and in the
description here on YouTube andyou can find that and I hope
that you'll get both of thoseresources Lots of people have
and continue to let us walk withyou on the journey that you're
(30:40):
on.
My friend, I love you Again.
Make sure you're subscribed,make sure you join us every time
here on the Thriving ChristianArtist so that we can continue
to inspire and equip you ineverything that God's called you
to do.
And remember until next timeyou were created to thrive.
Bye, hey, my friend, before yougo, make sure that you're
signed up for the ThrivingChristian Artist Weekly.
(31:00):
Hey, my friend, before you go,make sure that you're signed up
for the Thriving ChristianArtist Weekly.
It's my free newsletter, fullof spiritual encouragement,
creative inspiration andpractical tips to help you
thrive in everything that God'scalled you to do as an artist in
his kingdom.
Every issue is absolutely freeand it includes the latest
podcast episode, featured artistspotlights, a worship song of
the week and, again, tons oftips and encouragement and
inspiration for you to keep youinspired and encouraged, and
(31:23):
everything that God's got foryou as an artist in the kingdom.
You can click the link righthere in the show notes to join
us, and it's a great way to stayconnected.
All right, love you, bye.
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