Holding Tight To Your Dreams: Artists Building Up Artists

People are not usually easy on other people's dreams...But, more times than not, it is other Artists who serve to discourage their fellow artistic peers.
The one thing that I hate the most in art of any kind, is the mindset of the majority in the art world, who get caught up in 'skill : 'above 'creativity', above 'message', and above 'other people's feelings'.
Yes, there is such thing as poor art, and excellent art. But, what is other Artists who seem to want to wreck other creative people's dreams? Perhaps  it is really not that they plan to speak words of discouragement, but deep down inside you know, they only care about what 'they're' doing, and where 'they're' going...and where's the encouragement in that? It makes you feel like what you have to offer is unimportant, and that your dreams are paper thin.

Sometimes I wonder where 'God is' in the business world, and in the art world. It's almost as if there is hardly any room for him in these places, because people are overly 'competitive' and 'self centered'. We rarely see this fact more clearly than on 'Black Friday' here in the US ;-)...

I believe that networking, especially Christian networking, should be about 'assisting our fellow artists for Christ'. Until people realize that in this life, whether in our work or in our play, there is always the need to be serving someone else. But, if we are too consumed with our own 'talents' and 'abilities' we will not want to serve others, we will only want to 'be served'. Which is ridiculously selfish...

In art, especially in the mediums that are collaborative, such as film-making, dance, theater, music...you will not get far if you think, or want to be 'super man'. No matter what you tell yourself,  you cannot do everything 'yourself'. And the hardest thing about 'collaborative' art mediums, is truly respecting and flourishing in that environment. I'd say mainly because, no one is perfect. And unless people give up a certain extent on 'pleasing themselves' and start 'truly serving', the projects collaborated on are jinxed.

What is a music artist, without a recording team? A singer without back up music? What is Filmmaker without out a videographer, a writer, a gopher, an actor? We are nothing without each other. Artists aren't much without other artists. We make eachother's dreams possible.

So how does this relate to you personally?
I think the Artist/ the Creative person, has to be willing to 'let go of his dreams a little bit', just enough to see that if he does not, he cannot be helped, and his dreams will not become a reality. And if we are too consumed with our own progress, we will not consider the man who sits beside us who needs assistance.

Perhaps, the true point of this blog post is just to remind the 'Art arena' that 'humility' is better than blind ambition. I believe that the best artists are those who put other people before themselves, whether that be the audience, or fellow artists. The truth is Artists...we need a wake up call. The walls need to be dropped, the complex needs to be dropped that says 'I am the best at what I do', 'If I don't like what you do, it must not be good'. So critical, so judgmental, so un-supportive is the majority of the art world, because most Artists believe that they can stick up their noses and bash every other person's artwork that doesn't align to their personal tastes!

But, honestly I think the root of this in some cases is 'insecurity'. This is more the case with fellow artistic 'peers', than with teachers and professionals...they dash your hopes, by withholding encouragement and acceptance, because deep inside they want to believe that 'they are better at what they do'...they don't give encouragement  because they don't have it in  'themselves'. The do not accept, because they themselves are looking for 'acceptance', 'backing', 'financing' lol.  So the thing is, most of the young artists are in competition with each other  fearing they will be left behind.

Also, a lot of young folk are pursing the wrong career, or even area of creativity. Just because other people have frightened their dreams, and peer-pressure even 'non verbal' has made them assume they must be like 'everybody else'. It's a lie. Don't try to be like 'everybody else'. Because, there are already too many Artists in the same boxes, that never found their own 'style'.

As Christians we must never cut off any part of our lives from living the Christ-centered life. Some people think that they can call themselves 'Christians' and yet they are only so in church, and not on the film set, nor in their hobbies. Just like some people are thankful on 'Thanksgiving', selfish on 'Black Friday', and then "generous" on 'Christmas'.
How should you act in your career  or in your artistic pursuits? Just as Jesus would. Surprised? Yes, you still should act like a follower of the Messiah when you're at work, or even at play.
Art on a large scale as described in the Bible, is the result of God individually calling different people to use their unique talents and gifts, to join to together and work for a common purpose or goal.

Just as with Spiritual gifts, we are not to glory solely in, or keep our gifts to ourselves. It's all about community, group effort, and uplifting others. We are all parts of one body in Christ Jesus. Some of us are the hands, some of us are the feet, some of us our the mouth. We all have our purpose, and we were all created with 'a' purpose. Every man has a purpose, and believe it or not, he doesn't really have to 'find it' to make it a reality.
I encourage you, the reader, to read the following scripture passage from Corinthians 12 through the beginning of Corinthians 13. Just as the Spiritual gifts in many people all create 'one body', so should our talents in fellow Christians be used to create 'a body'.

1 Corinthians 12 ~

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of serve, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues  and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distribute them to each one, just as he determines.

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body - whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body", it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but on body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!"And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that un-presentable are treated with special modesty, 24 which our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is the part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

And yet I show you the most excellent way. -

1 Corinthians 13 ~

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angles, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.


Let us love our fellow Artists. We are to love above all else. If we have all the talent in the world, and the biggest dreams, but are self-centered what does it gain us? Where is the love in a lot of Artists? We are proud, we boast, we envy...we hold back kindness, we are self-seeking...
We need to follow the example of the scripture and find the true key to "success". We must put others before ourselves. Yes, it sounds hard...and 'no' it's not easy, to encourage other people's dreams when you are in doubt about the reality of your own. But, give your dreams to God. He will take care of them. He will lift up those who humble themselves in His own true time. God never leaves the good man behind. If you seek first His kingdom and His will, He shall give you the desires of Your heart, and make your paths straight.

So try not to be too offended by other Artists...don't let them discourage you...but pray for them, that they would see the 'greatness' in 'love' and 'generosity'. Pray for men and woman to stand up from the crowd who will be Artists who are driven not only by self gain, and who are not blind to the needs of others. There is a need for artists who are willing serve, willing to live for a purpose greater then themselves.

God, make us a body. God, give us purpose. God, do your will in and through us Artists.
We give you our dreams, we give you our fears, we give you our anxieties.

Let us be known as those Artists who 'build up' and don't 'tare down'.

Trusting in God's Promises

Most all of us have dreams, or goals that we hope to accomplish or obtain in life. But along with those dreams and goals we have anxieties. Anxieties that those same dreams and goals, won't come to pass, or that we won't obtain them. Ever.

Have you ever felt like though, no matter your fears, that God has promised you something? Perhaps you haven't actually heard the His voice wake you out of a deep sleep, or reveal himself and his promise to you in a vision...or perhaps you have...yet, maybe you were made aware of God's promise to you in another fashion; though the words of a friend, in your quiet time with God, in his word, a sign... confirming occurrences, or words that appear over and over again to you... However you were awakened to the "voice of God", He did "speak to you", and you know it...Sometimes you might 'doubt' the fact that God made a promise to you, but you know that He ‘did’. How do you know? Because even when you may fear that perhaps God didn't promise something to you, still, deep inside you keep 'waiting', you keep 'expecting' what you hope for, to one day happen. You haven't given up on your desire for ‘what’ God has promised...but perhaps you just don't know if God will really keep his word in 'fulfilling it'?

'Promise' definition:

Noun: A declaration of assurance that one will do a particular thing, or that guarantees that a particular thing will happen.

Verb: Assure someone that one will definitely do, give, or arrange something; undertake or declare that something will happen.

Ever read the story of Abraham in Genesis? If so, did you notice that almost in every chapter of his story God tells Abraham that he shall have his own son…but Abraham has to be constantly reminded of God’s promise to him, because what he promises seems impossible.

Genesis 12: 1-2 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your Father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a ‘great nation’ and I will ‘bless you’; I will make your name great….

Then in chapter fifteen:

Genesis 15: 2 But Abram said, “O Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I ‘remain’ childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir. “ 4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir. “ 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars – if indeed you ‘can’ cunt them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be”. 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Then in Genesis seventeen:

Genesis 17: 15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. 16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. 17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? And shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? 18 And Abraham said unto God, “O that Ishmael might live before thee! 19 And God said “Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shall call his name Issac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant and with his seed after him.”

Notice here how Abraham says unto the Lord; “O that Ishmael might live before thee!” There are a few ways one might take this, but when I read it I think of all our failed attempts to ‘bring about’ God’s “will” in our lives. We do this, and we ‘do’ that, and there comes a time when we look up and ask God “O if only my attempts, if only my works could bring about your will!” But that's not the way it goes is it? We cannot 'make' providence happen in our lives, only the Holy Spirit can do that. If it were 'us' that made all the good things in our lives come to pass, and our dreams be fulfilled, then life would be all about 'us'. And it's not. What I think is that, if a man can 'make' happen his dreams all without God's help, then there's good cause to believe that his dreams were never Christ Centered, or focused on anything but the gratification of 'self'. Worthless dreams, that will not live after the individual is gone. I don't know about you, but I want what I do, my dreams to make an impact on the world, and those around me. I don't want something that will only bring happiness to 'myself'.

In Genesis eighteen 10- 14 God's messanger tells Abram and Her husband again, that they shall have a son.

And in Genesis 21:1-3 God's promise is fulfilled: And the Lord visted Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.....5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Issac was born unto him.

 Sometimes God's promises take a long time to be fulfilled, but wow, He 'always' keeps his word.

Notice it took 25 years in this case, for what God promised concerning Abraham to come to pass. He was 75 when the promise first came to him that he would have a son, and 100 years old when it was fulfilled. Isn't God amazing? His timing is perfect. He perhaps waited until there was no possible way Abraham could 'do it on his own', and did the "impossible". I tend to believe God likes doing that. He comes when we realize that we can't possibly make our dreams come true on our own. His promises are like tickets. Tickets that never expire, nor are made void by impossibility. The train will 'chug' no matter the weather, no matter what. God's promises are true 'garantees'.

Sometimes though we get tired of waiting for God to 'answer our prayers' or 'keep his word' and in result we go to other things, or go for 'second best' or even doing things the 'world's way' (sinning) to get what we want...to take the place of what 'God has promised'; like Sarah and Abraham did in involving Hagar in their desire for a son. Genesis 16: 2- 5. Notice though what happenes when we 'jump the gun' and don't trust in God's promises? We bare fruit that doesn't line up to God's perfect will. I feel like we have the tendency to do the same thing, we we go to things, or do things that we know 'isn't what we should be doing' because God has promised more to us. But when God finall does fulfill his promises to us and our lives...we regret our hasty actions that we did when we didn't trust God would act on his promises; just like Sarah and Abraham did in Genesis 21:9-11...

God always keeps his promises, and fulfills what he has promised.

So what sort of promises has God made to you? There are some promises that God has made to all of his children.

He has promsied that he will never leave us or forsake us.
He has promised that he will supply all our needs according to Christ Jesus.
He has promised that we will be taken care of.
He has promised that those who trust in Him, He will direct their paths.
He has promised us eternal life.
He has promsied to give rest to those who come to Him.
He has promised peace and joy to those who's minds are set on Him.
He has promised victory for those who surrender to Him.
He has promised strength to those who seek it from Him.

http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/the-promises-of-god-10-powerful-bible-verses-1/

The list goes on, and on, and on!

Do you trust God to make good his promises to you as his child?

Sometimes peace seems unibtainable. Sometimes shadows hider your sight. Sometimes the night stretches long into the morning. But peace can be yours, and the light can penetrate the darkness that surrounds you.

Trust in God. And for those of you who feel God has given you dreams, goals, visions...made a promise to you of a better life, or a life of influence...Don't settle for less. Joy comes with the sun rise, and one day you will wake up and God's will has had it's way in your life. If God has promised anything to you, you can be asurred that he will fulfill it in your life. Trust in the Lord and lean not unto your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6

Go with God. And keep your eyes on Him. He is God over all impossibilty, He is God and you are not. Imagine all that you could do to make good possible, make your dreams possible...God can do far more. Have faith.

Philipians 1:6 - God will complete His good work in You.