My wife and I have long been involved in Christian Creative Arts – whether writing, dancing, singing, drama, film, painting or poetry – we believe that all were created by and for God’s pleasure. For several years we pastored a creative work here in London, and in truth this blog is a product of that creative team and time that we shared. The creative industries are not always considered the kind of place Christians readily fit, and the influence the arts and media exert is often ungodly to say the least. In much the same way, a prostitutes company or a swindlers house were not considered savoury places for Jesus to hang out, but nevertheless He was found there, bringing light to the darkness, and healing to the hurting.

The gospel commission is all about communicating a message. Let’s embrace every avenue to bring that message to others. Businessmen are called to bring Kingdom truth and principles to the workplace, Christian teachers to the school room, and Christian artists to the attention of the world, a message that throbs with the life and healing power of God Himself.

If you are a writer, write full of inspiration and faith that your words will impact those who read them. A painter? Paint images that will carry people beyond the momentary troubles of this life. A moviemaker? Believe God for heaven’s direction!

Below is a poem inspired by these thoughts, a trumpet call, a banner raised, gathering artists for the harvest of souls we eagerly anticipate.

I SEE

I see

A creative factory for the arts

A boundary busting building

Built of people of the book

Poets, pastors, painters, actors

Poised with purpose,

Not living on the surface.

An Adullam for the artist

Training armies for the harvest.

I see

Talent mixed with team

Open up the world unseen

The artist unleashed

To serve freely with her gift

The longing to be understood

Swallowed in this holy shift

I see unveiled potential

The line of the scribe on history’s page

Redemptive theatre

Reclaiming the stage.

I see

The storyteller telling

The punk rock poet yelling

The cartoonists scribble

The comic writers giggle

The bangra beat of nations

Genuine relations

I see community creative

Rooted in God’s love

Tongue talking

Spirit filled

Born from above

I see

A hospital for the horrified

At what we have become

A place where imagination

Is primed and free to run

Creation meets salvation

In a synergistic mix

A place where word and spirit hungry

Can come and get a fix.

I see

Movers, groovers

Screenplay writers

Dancers, authors, artisans

A host of holy artful priests

Joining hearts and hands

I see preachers, teachers

Sent and soaked

Brimming with desire

And at the centre of it all

Jesus Christ and holy fire!

I see

Gifting clothed with glory not our own

I see harvest time for abundant seed that’s

sown

I see and boldly say

Herald hallelujah the breaking of the day

Not by might or power

But by the holy Spirit shower

I see

sending teams across the land

Smashing castles built on sand

And in their place

A message sound

Rooted deep in love resound

I see

the king of kings

Creativity taking wings

Ripping souls from here to there

The holy and the bold declare,

Repent!

Believe!

And join this band

Sing and dance

And save the damned.

Let the Father’s heart be channeled

The real world

Not religious flannel.

I see

You and I before the gates

Pearly white, no fear, no hate

With every tear, trial and pain

Never to be felt again.

I see

Memories fade in the light of His face

I see Jesus,

full of truth and grace

I’ve fought my fight I’ve run my race.

So open up your eyes

and see

Switch on your dreamer

And dream with me.

Me

A sinner

no more.

Larna Martin, Author of ‘Dancing God’s Way’ has just released a brand new Christian dance book about how to build a strong, anointed dance team.

Larna has been developing dancers and dance teams for many years now and her new book concentrates many of the lessons she has learned, both spiritual and practical, into 70 packed pages that will inspire anyone with an interest in Christian praise dance.

You can check out the new book here…

http://www.praisedancetoday.com/building-gods-team-of-dancers/

I Love You Too

I see the sun when it breaks the horizon

The most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on
Changing the sky from darkness to bright blue

What can I say?
I love You too…

I see the plants, trees, and flowers stretching toward heaven
As if longing to spend just a little time in your presence.
Their green leaves and strong branches reaching desperately up into the blue

What can I say?
I love You too…

I see the mountains, their gorgeous peaks
I see the canyons and valleys beneath
Both so majestic, such a beautiful view.

What else can I say?
I love You too…

I see the looks on my daughters faces
I stare with wonder at them. How amazing!
They look like their mother…

THANKS FOR THAT!
And I love You too…

I see who I was back before I knew you
I thought going to church was something that fools do
With kindness you drew me and made me brand new.

I can just barely whisper,
I love You too.

I look at the Cross and how Jesus died,
Then rose from the grave, declaring your followers justified
You say to my spirit “I did it for you”

I CAN’T HELP BUT SHOUT IT…
I LOVE YOU TOO!!!

I see that I’m perfect in the eyes of the father
Holy, Righteous, Sinless, even Spotless
Not only saved, but I’ve been adopted!

I stand on your promise.
I love You too…

I see Grace is sufficient like the Bible reminds me
To keep what’s in my past where it belongs- behind me.
You say “I’ll never leave, never forsake you”

What else can I say?
I love You too!

I see that I’m nothing like the man I once was
All this is possible because You first loved US

God…
I love You too!

A time for me, myself and I

A time for my clothes

My car, TV

A time to think about mine and me

My wage, my job

My house, my hair

A time to think about what I’m going to wear

Yes, there’s a time

Lots of them in fact

When I’m at the centre

Where everything’s at

HERE AM I!

But what of others?

The man down the road?

What of the single mum with such a heavy load?

What of the poor?

The lonely? The weak?

What of the one’s whose voice cannot speak?

You are their only voice

Your strength their solution

The message you carry

Is their absolution

Without Christ they will perish

With no answer or hope

But in you, yourself and yours

Is the life saving rope

Throw it overboard

To the lonely and the lost

And discover

A time for others

Its worth more than the cost.

With this in mind watch this awesome video…