All posts filed under: Musing Moments

Todd Polyniak: Creative in Action

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Interview by Briana Lassiter What a privilege it was for me to interview prophetic artist Todd Polyniak this week! As I’m preparing this article and looking through the beautiful art he sent me to be featured, I’m reminded of how one piece of God-given art can touch many of us in drastically different ways to minister to us exactly as we need. Our Father knows each of us so personally, and He communicates with us in the exact way He knows we can receive from His heart to ours. I hope this interview encourages you to ask for and receive your own gifts of creativity. No matter where you are. Whether you think you’re gifted or not. We are His beloved children, and we are all His favorites. We are spoiled by His love and there’s nothing as a doting dad, that He wouldn’t give us if we ask. If after reading this interview you find yourself asking the Lord for more, as I have, why don’t you pray with me for a fresh release …

Chilled Tomato & Basil Salad: by Briana Lassiter

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I (Briana) can’t really remember where this recipe came from, I just remember my mom and I would make this salad together every Summer using fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and basil from our garden, and sometimes in the heat of the day, this would be all we would want to eat! Try serving it as a side for bbq chicken, a steak, grilled fish or devouring it by itself as I usually do! Chilled Tomato Basil salad • 1 1/2 medium sliced and quartered tomatoes • 1 1/2 peeled and thin sliced cucumber • 1 tablespoon chopped red onion • 3 sliced sweet peppers • Small handful of finely chopped fresh basil • Dash of salt, pepper, oregano, parsley and garlic powder to taste • Any Mediterranean type dressing for drizzling • Feta crumbles, or herbed goat cheese crumbles Layer all ingredients in a bowl and drizzle each layer with dressing, season with the salt, pepper, garlic, and herbs, and top with cheese. Serves 4. Refrigerate for 1-3 hours before serving for the flavors to come …

Our Favorite Reads!: Single While Serving & The Blessing in Both

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Hello Creatives! This summer we, at ICFTS, are compiling a list of Our Favorite Reads, articles, and teachings that blessed us the most. Both Briana & Candice will be sharing their favorite reads and giving a quick explanation of why they love them so much. Below is our first Favorite Read, by Briana Lassiter.  Enjoy! Over the three years that I (Briana) have been blessed to be acquainted with the ministry and writings of Candice Coates. There have been many things she has written that have spoken joy and life to my spirit, and I’m really excited to share my personal favorites of the articles she’s written, that others may not have had a chance to read and love as I have! Funny enough, one of my favorite things she’s written is entitled “Single While Serving & The Blessing in Both.” And while I personally haven’t been single for almost 10 years, the truths in the article don’t care what your situation is, and they resonate fiercely whatever your relationship status. I think wherever you …

Olive Garden Inspired Summer Salad by Briana Lassiter

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I don’t know about you, but every summer I become obsessed with salad and the endless ways to make it. It can be the perfect cooling addition to any meal, or it can BE the meal depending on what you create. This summer we, here at ICFTS, will be sharing our absolute favorite salad ideas, and encourage you to use our recipes loosely as inspiration to build your own salad creation that suits your palate! I hope you enjoy our very first recipe, created by me (Briana) and my 6-year-old, and inspired by our favorite things as well as Olive Garden’s famous salad! Olive Garden inspired salad • 3 cups Baby spring mix • 2 tablespoons chopped red onion • 1/2 cup herbed croutons • 1/2 cup grape tomatoes • 1, 1/2 tablepsoons deli sliced pepperoncini peppers • Crumble feta cheese, as much as your heart desires • Top with a sprinkle of raw sunflower seeds • Any Mediterranean type dressing drizzled to your liking (we love Primal Kitchen Green Goddess dressing or their Greek …

Summer is Coming!: News for ICFTS This Summer

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Hello, fellow Creatives! Summer is practically here! For many of us, summer has already started. School is out, the weather is heating up, days are longer, and the desire to just breathe and be is consuming our thoughts with expectations of rest and rejuvenation. Last summer, in light of those truths, ICFTS took the summer months of to, like you, regroup, and gain much-needed rest for the creative season to come. This year we here at ICFTS feel like doing something new. We would like to share our summer with you! WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR THE SUMMER This summer, we would like to share ideas and revelation on: Free and inexpensive activities for the family Recipes to enjoy over cookouts and bonfires Ways to beat the heat And More! We even want to share some of the articles that we’ve been most blessed to share over the past year(s) here at ICFTS. Our pace is going to be a lot more relaxed but still Spirit and faith-filled, all with the aim of tuning our …

Where Are Your Weapons by Briana Lassiter

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Before every successful battle in the Old Testament, the people of God always began by enquiring of the Lord. “Lord, what do YOU say about this battle? What should I expect, and how should I proceed?” When given, and acting upon the Lord’s direction, they were always victorious. By man’s standards, many of the Old Testament battles seem to be fodder for unbelief and proof that the Bible is a fairytale because their feats were so preposterous and impossible. Many times they would go into battle without the weapons that we would think were necessary, like in the defeat of the city Jericho, where the Lord told them to walk around silently for 7 days…and be armed with…trumpets… Let that sink in…trumpets. The Lord told them to go fight an entire city with trumpets, and oddly specific, silent walking. You know what happened? The people listened to what God said would happen, they believed Him, and they did exactly what He said. Total victory ensues. Believe it or not, the Lord is still working in …

Guard Your Heart: Journies of Faith

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“Guard your heart with all diligence for out of it spring forth the issues of life.” ~PROVERBS 4:23 The Lord has been telling me during this season not to allow the enemy to steal my joy. On the cuffs of that admonition, He in His grace, also reminds me that He has also been telling me to “not be nervous but to be expectant.” In all of this, with the ringing of the divine message saying, “guard your heart”, what came to mind was the image and scripture regarding the full armor of God. FULLY ARMED Reading the scriptures about the Armor the Lord calls us to equip ourselves with is how although He has instructed us to be fully dressed in this armor, He doesn’t tell us to fight. In fact, what He instructs us to do is to stand! “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” ~EPHESIANS 6:13 (See Eph. 6:10-20) The Lord wants us to …

It is Finished: Faith for Creatives

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“…It is finished!…” ~JOHN 19:30 The Lord God Yeshua Jesus Who was delivered up because of our offenses and was raised because of our justification has declared that it is finished (ROMANS 4:25)! Because He died, we live. Because He rose, we are justified! He is the firstfruits of all who are born again (I COR. 15:20)! It is finished…now we get to begin again each day with new mercies (LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23) and new opportunities to live to the fullness of life that He has purposed for each of us to have. IT IS FINISHED PRAISE HIM FOR HIS LOVE AND AMAZING GRACE! ~Poiema, Poetry in Motion *Photo by Fuu J on Unsplash

Jesus’ Intent For Us All: Faith for Creatives

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“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” ~JEREMIAH 29:11 Things happen in life that are often times out of our control and more times than not outside of the will of God, even though He may allow them to happen. The goodness that we are blessed to drink and rest in, comes from the immutable truth that God is not surprised by the happenings of life, nor is He unable to take any circumstance and recycle it for our good (ISAIAH 61:3). Blessedly, that is exactly what He desires to do! Even from the very fall of man in the Garden of Eden, the Lord had already set up a plan for us all for our good, out of His abundant grace! Luke 2:14 encourages us that He delights in giving and pouring out His goodwill upon us all. “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Be encouraged and rest in these truths …

Doing Your Part: The Art of What You Can

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“You can’t do it all. But you can do your part.” ~Candice Coates I saw a collection of photos the other day on social media. It was a brilliant article about a couple who reforested land, shared on Bored Panda. The images showed the twenty-year difference that was made when a couple decided to reforest a deforested area. They planted 20 million trees and in the span of two decades what was nothing but a wasteland turned into a green oasis where even the wildlife began to return. This is victory. This is joy. This is doing ones part. This couple did not set out to rebuild all the damaged land but they did restore the land that was in front of them and they are now reaping the fruits of their labors just like the animals that returned, as well as future generations that will come. This couple can sit back and rejoice for a job well done because that is what they have done. They saw a need, they counted the cost, and …