All posts tagged: Motivation

Preparing to Prosper in What Looks Like a Drought

Published by

Scrolling through the Stories feed on my author’s Instagram account, @candicecoateswrites, I came across a comedic meme that read, “So in the middle of the Civil War, someone was like “You know what this country needs? A delicious steak sauce.“.” If you are not familiar with what steak sauce I am talking about, it is good ole’ A1 Steak Sauce. Now here is the thing, the sauce, which started to get more widely known in 1862, was actually created by a European chef in Europe and wasn’t even introduced to America until 1895.** Although not American in origin, and actually created three decades before the Civil War, the idea and even deeper truth behind the comedic meme still stands.** What is that meaning? That we must be willing to create and pursue our vision even in the midst of tremulous times. We must have the faith to plan beyond the drought. NOT HINDERED BY THE MOUNTAINS A beautiful example of this can be found in the life and love story of Black American Nurse in …

Falling in Faith: The Beauty of the Balance Beam

Published by

“Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up…” ~PROVERBS 24:16 Two decades ago, I was a young woman still in her teens but fully adult. I was finally in the world on my own–away from home in undergrad studying art–and learning who I truly was in Christ when the usual comforts of the familiar were nowhere to be found. The choices I made were my own. Where I went, who I hung out with, what I ate, how much detergent I put in my laundry. All the choices–all my own to make. I am grateful that at the very beginning of that path the Lord seemed to shine with a brighter and more defined light than He had been before. No, He was not distant from me before, but things were much clearer. We walked even closer than we had been before but how He began to relate to me was much different. I was growing. I was now an adult. Things were different and with that shift, there were some major …

Plan BIG!: A Word on Vision Casting

Published by

“When God is your partner, make your plans big!” ~ D.L MOODY Plan BIG! You’d think that that exhortation would make every person who heard it celebrate with a motivated fire for action when in reality it makes a lot of people shrink back in fear and hide under the heavy blankets of safety and mediocrity. Dreaming is not so much of an issue for most of us. But dreaming big . . . well, that has the power to not only knock the wind out of many of our sails but sink our boats completely. Like me, I suppose you are wondering why that is. If we are honest with ourselves we would have to admit that insecurity and the scrutiny of others are what holds us back. The old ‘what will people think?’ phrase acts as the perfect glitch in our plans of action. The very thought of failing in front of others, especially those who’ve minimalized our former dreams with the constant song of ‘you can’t,’ strikes us immobile. Them witnessing our …

Chase the Birds of Prey: Word on Harvests

Published by

On July 11, 2018, the Lord Jesus in His goodness, gave me a word of encouragement about attacks that come during the times His children are supposed to be bringing in their harvests. And recently He encouraged me to share this with you all, even as I encourage myself. When the word had first been given, it had not even been a full twenty-four hours before the enemy began attacking me concerning faith for a move of God that was coming within a certain amount of time. Almost instantly FAMILIAR spirits of heaviness started to press upon me and pollute my thoughts with the intent to rob me of my peace. I began to confess my fear and shaking faith in the Lord and then I asked Him for understanding. When I asked, immediately He brought the image of the familiar spirits to my mind. WHY? Because He had to remind me that every thought and every feeling is not my own. That the enemy is a deceiver and will do his darndest to rob us …

Picture This!: Capturing 2020 with 20/20

Published by

Twenty-nineteen is almost at its end. And if we are honest, we can say that this year has gone by with a flash! Like with years past, we prepare to tackle the holiday season with knives and forks as if this will be our last indulgence before the clock strikes midnight for the last time on this side of the calendar year. For then, then we must set our goals, put on our workout gear and run ourselves to the gym with the single purpose of being beach-ready several warm months from now. For those of us who are focused on pursuing our creative callings, our goals tend to involve a different kind of exercise with a completely different destination in mind. “Success is not one size fits all and therefore requires a unique pattern.” For me, the goals that I have in the crosshairs are goals that I have been striving toward for several years now. But as I set out to take hold of them this year I am doing so while letting …

Rules versus Mighty Revelation

Published by

*Revised from June 16, 2014 I have since I can remember, held firm to the belief that in any form of art, one must know the rules before they can properly break them, (thank you, Pablo Picasso). Being a person that is still learning to go through the process of things, I find that I often remind myself of this truth; learn the rules and then break them. Break them through revelation. In art, in writing, there are set rules for the ‘how’s’ and ‘why’s.’ Why does this color go with this one? Why must I tone my canvas before starting to paint? Why do I need to be concerned with the first-person narrative versus the third person? You get the drift. Creating, and being good at it, involves knowledge but it also includes a great level of instinct. Both go hand in hand. Rules will only take you so far but instinct powered by Revelation can take you to heights you never dreamed of. So what is the difference between the two; Rules and …

Making Friends with Failure by Briana Lassiter

Published by

This year I’ve had the joy of attending several different conferences that were very interactive and learning was encouraged by the act of doing. The first time I went I quietly observed and didn’t participate much. In a new group of people learning new things, it was not my comfort zone to participate and risk making mistakes and I left with a lot of unanswered questions. The next conference, Jesus helped me to get out of my comfort zone and be very hands-on, and because of my participation, I left with a very different learning experience. It can be extremely uncomfortable making mistakes, but when you are in a safe place where mistakes are part of the learning process that everyone benefits from as you learn, it accelerates your growth in a way that quietly refusing to participate never will. If you are experiencing fear of failure and it’s keeping you from your own learning process, be assured that your mistakes will not keep you from your Father or His approval of you. Divorce yourself …

The Art of Thanksgiving Series

Published by

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” ~PSALM 136:1 November has finally come upon us and with it comes the holiday season. We begin to prepare our hearts for the Season of Light, dedicating and celebrating with Hanukkah and remembering the birth of our Saviour during Christmas. But for those in the States, Thanksgiving is the crown jewel of November. But more than a day, more than dressing and turkey dinners, there is something to be said about thanksgiving–literally giving the King of Kings thanks for all that He is and all that He has done. Giving thanks should be more than just an event that takes place once a year or even a week. It should be something that its joyfully practiced in all seasons, every day, in the good and in the sorrowful. Journey along with us here at ICFTS as we explore the life-transforming glory and blessing of thanksgiving.

Waiting for Your Eggs to Hatch: 3 Things To Do While You Wait

Published by

*Revised from November 18, 2014 For many years now, I have been likening my creativity to that of motherhood. I often speak of my creations as my children, each with their own personality, some more giving than others, while some are just outright unruly. Through the span of the years, my creativity has produced many fruits that I cannot help but be grateful for. My spirit, soul, and mind have truly been fed and exercised which is why I created this platform for in the first place. But there have been seasons, and will likely be others that come, that as if everything is at a sudden standstill. These are seasons where you feel like you have nothing to say or give but at the same time, you recognize that you have so eggs in your creative basket. I will admit that I have experienced this anxious feeling while sitting in my creative silence. What to do? What to do? What to do? If I could compare this feeling to anything, it would be the …

Claim Your Outcome: Choose Your Own Adventure pt 3

Published by

The choice is yours’. We’ve heard that in many different scenarios but often times we tend to shun away from that conceptual truth when it comes to our faith-walks. Yes, we as children of God, creatives seeking His divine purpose for our lives, have surrendered our lives and eternity to Him. Yes, we like Christ Jesus, should daily be in submission to His plan with a not our wills but Yours ever on our lips. In short, His will should always be our will…but we do have a choice. THE CHOICE TO TRIUMPH “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil,  in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.” ~DUETERONMY 30:15-16 From the onset of creation, our Heavenly Father has given us choices, choices that would dictate the course of our lives. It is never …