For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.  2 Timothy 1:6-7
 
These two verses jumped out at me like never before. The Holy Spirit began to stoke the passion He originally gave me for this ministry. The passion? To help creative people become all they can be and engage people with the arts for God's glory and their own edification. If you look on the homepage of this site you will see the purpose statement He led me to for this calling. The groundwork is laid, every detail is prayed over and things are starting to happen. The embers are burning slow and steady; lives are touched. All praise goes to the Master Creator. I just get the feeling He wants to infuse and propel this thing with more of His holy oil.
 
Anointing oil in the Bible often represented the favor or Presence of God. Think back to the accounts of the building of the Tabernacle and Temples. The structures needed to be finished before the Shekinah, or the Presence of God could enter into them, though it could also manifest as a cloud leading the way or sheltering the Israelites from harm. Well, the Word tells me that my body is the temple of the Holy Sprit. I believe this ministry is a vehicle He wants to use as well. He will indwell it as He did those structures-it is just a structure of a different kind. if I want those this ministry touches to be passionate about creativity in worship and life, I'd better be saturated, infused and fully controlled by the Spirit of the Master Creator myself.
 
As I thought about this, my eyes zeroed in on the word "power" and I purposed to look up its root. It isn't that I'm timid about my gifts, this ministry or my God. I know He has given me a spirit of love and self-discipline and these things are being developed in me.
 
A spirit of power. There's more to that one.
 
What kind of power are we talking about? I looked at a few commentaries on the shelf at a bookstore later that day. One said the root of the word is dynamis in Greek. That's where we get the word dynamite and means that something is characterized by power and energy. The same Spirit that fell upon the disciples in power at Pentecost, the same Spirit that raised Lazarus from the dead, and the same Spirit that turned Paul the author of those verses, a vehement persecutor of believers, into a passionate convert, lives in you and I if we have asked Jesus to come live in our hearts. Not a little party popper, not just a firecracker, but a prisoner-freeing, bone-gathering, soul-saving DIVINE DYNAMITE activated by the Supreme Super-Being Himself.
 
He's given me the fuel of His Word, His Spirit is the Fire and He will provide the avenues for great-no, spectacular things to happen to His glory! In fact, He has been creating a revival in the arts for some time. On November 21st,  500 world-renown artists gathered together in the Vatican for a summit to revive the creative arts as a catalyst for a renewal of faith. That's the biggest thing to happen there since the Renaissance, In fact, it is a type of Second Renaissance (that part of this ministry, by the way, came way before the Vatican event was advertised. God is moving this way all over the world right now!). The Pope called for this  summit. How I would have loved to be a fly on the wall on that day! Ah, but I can do my part right where I am. So can you.
The Spirit of the Master Artist is fanning the creative flame word-wide and is telling me to get busy. Okay, I thought. What exactly do I need to do from here, Lord?

It didn't surprise me when He led me to pick up a nearby book named The Power of Vision by George Barna. I could almost hear Him say with a slight laugh, "Glad you asked!"
"That was quick!" I whispered under my breath.
While I can dial God's line directly through the work of Jesus on my behalf, I seldom get such fast answers to prayers like that one. It confirmed that He wanted to add fuel to the fire already in my spirit. I got the feeling this little spark was going to turn into a raging, holy fire of creativity as more doors open, more people join in and our faith is strengthened when we see Him move powerfully!
 
I will keep you updated. Perhaps you would like to join me by reading the book also (it has a study guide). Ask the Lord to ignite the fire of vision in your life as well.  Let us look to His Word and Spirit for guidance, perhaps be led to a selective fast (check with your doctor) and believe that He will do incredible things. Then we can expect some HOLY DYNAMITE to explode in our lives! I got a taste of something like this last month and He brought healing, deliverance, salvation as well as dreams and visions into my life and the lives of others in my circles. Trust Him. If you seek Him with all your heart, soul and mind His Power is the limit and that says it all.
 
For more inforamation on the New Renaissance Rising, a separate organization focused on the above movement of God, please go to their site: http://thenewr.org/
 
 
The Power of Vision: Discover and Apply God's Plan for Your Life and Ministry by George Barna
: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=747283&item...