Advertising alone will not launch your ministry into the Hall of Fame. When we lift up Jesus, He draws people unto Himself. Many people today use slick marketing, ministry logos, and catch phrases in an attempt to prove validity. Only what we do for Christ will last.
If we stay faithful to the calling of the Lord on our lives, He will exalt us in due season. Excellence in ministry should be a hallmark. We also have a responsibility to demonstrate truth-in-advertising. If we have a flashy image and outstanding "packaging" but are empty on the inside (not filled with the Holy Spirit), then we will not be able to stand the trials that come with ministry and servanthood.
Billboards will not keep you. Television exposure does not make you more powerful or anointed. National and International platforms can be your downfall if you are not prepared for the appointment. Promotions and titles in ministry will test your true character.
When we are truly following Christ and walking in His footsteps, then our names will be uttered and recognized as Kingdom Ambassadors. People will follow us as we follow Christ. Stay faithful to the course that God has designed for you. When we operate in the Spirit of the Lord, our works will be known throughout the land.
Luke 23:8 (NKJV)
"Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him."
Friday, March 7, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Moving Day
If you have ever experienced the process of moving from one place to another, you discover in the packing process things that you had forgotten that you still possess. You also realize that many things that you are still keeping with you are no longer needed and are tossed into the trash. Others may have a moving sale. There may be things that still have value and are donated or given away so that others may benefit from them.
Ministry can be that way too. Sometimes in the dance realm, we are storing things inside that we need to get rid of. Past hurts, disappointments and missed opportunities must be released for you to make your move. If you have a wealth of knowledge or information, it is a blessing to share it. Are there churches in your community that would love to have a workshop or fellowship? Some may feel the need to "sell" the information that they have obtained in books, conferences, and DVDs.
The point is that we all must release some things in order to keep moving forward. If we never shed our extra possessions, then we will find ourselves unable to move. There is no fear in letting go and sharing what you have. We are blessed to be a blessing.
Matthew 5:42 (NKJV)
"Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away."
Luke 6:30 (NKJV)
"Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back."
Ministry can be that way too. Sometimes in the dance realm, we are storing things inside that we need to get rid of. Past hurts, disappointments and missed opportunities must be released for you to make your move. If you have a wealth of knowledge or information, it is a blessing to share it. Are there churches in your community that would love to have a workshop or fellowship? Some may feel the need to "sell" the information that they have obtained in books, conferences, and DVDs.
The point is that we all must release some things in order to keep moving forward. If we never shed our extra possessions, then we will find ourselves unable to move. There is no fear in letting go and sharing what you have. We are blessed to be a blessing.
Matthew 5:42 (NKJV)
"Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away."
Luke 6:30 (NKJV)
"Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back."
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Acting a Fool
We should all remain teachable. We can learn something even from the smallest children, and even just by observing His creation around us. There are times when people think that they can only be taught by those who have more influence and popularity. Not so.
It's not always about the movement. Instruction and study of the Word will teach us to hear directly from God and remain sensitive to His Spirit. You can easily do the right thing at the wrong time. It is one thing to build your core and increase your strength naturally, and another to do it spiritually. It is time for a supernatural increase in the strength and power of God.
If you only go out to gatherings that have invited you as a guest... If you only attend conferences that feature you as a dancer or speaker... If you only go to church when the dance ministry is scheduled to present... If you only study the Word regarding dance and nothing else... If you only take the classes that make you feel comfortable... If you only listen to music that celebrates your culture... If you are never willing to pay to go get some training... If you are always the teacher and never the student... Examine yourself!
Proverbs 1:7 (NKJV)
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
It's not always about the movement. Instruction and study of the Word will teach us to hear directly from God and remain sensitive to His Spirit. You can easily do the right thing at the wrong time. It is one thing to build your core and increase your strength naturally, and another to do it spiritually. It is time for a supernatural increase in the strength and power of God.
If you only go out to gatherings that have invited you as a guest... If you only attend conferences that feature you as a dancer or speaker... If you only go to church when the dance ministry is scheduled to present... If you only study the Word regarding dance and nothing else... If you only take the classes that make you feel comfortable... If you only listen to music that celebrates your culture... If you are never willing to pay to go get some training... If you are always the teacher and never the student... Examine yourself!
Proverbs 1:7 (NKJV)
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Tor-Mentor
It seems as though mentoring is all the rage in the world today. Top dollar is being charged by entrepreneurs, professionals, and many accomplished people in the church. "Be like me," seems to be the selling point for many of these "expert" training systems. Training is orderly and often necessary for us. There are times when mentoring can cross the line.
In the movement ministries, mentoring should never seek to produce exact copies of the teacher. Once, one of my friends in ministry commented on how the ministry that I was training looked "just like me." I was convicted. I realized that the goal was not for them to look like me, but to become who God has designed them to be.
Pray and seek God regarding those who would come into your life that intensely desire to mentor you. I have found that some of my best mentors have been the people who want no public recognition and understand why the Lord brought us together. I have also experienced some who called themselves a mentor in my life, but were really a tormentor.
The enemy always seeks to pervert God's design. We must guard ourselves against ravenous wolves who seek us out for their own gain and notoriety. The goal should always be to look to Christ and not man.
1 Corinthians 11: 1-3 (NKJV)
"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you. Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God."
In the movement ministries, mentoring should never seek to produce exact copies of the teacher. Once, one of my friends in ministry commented on how the ministry that I was training looked "just like me." I was convicted. I realized that the goal was not for them to look like me, but to become who God has designed them to be.
Pray and seek God regarding those who would come into your life that intensely desire to mentor you. I have found that some of my best mentors have been the people who want no public recognition and understand why the Lord brought us together. I have also experienced some who called themselves a mentor in my life, but were really a tormentor.
The enemy always seeks to pervert God's design. We must guard ourselves against ravenous wolves who seek us out for their own gain and notoriety. The goal should always be to look to Christ and not man.
1 Corinthians 11: 1-3 (NKJV)
"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you. Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God."
Monday, March 3, 2008
May I Ask, Who's Calling?
Understanding your function in the Body will help ease frustration along the movement ministry journey. There is a difference between being a liturgical dancer and a movement minister. The lines in between the two vary greatly, depending upon where you may be in your relationship with the Lord and the understanding of your calling.
Anyone can be a liturgical dancer. Not everyone is a sincere praiser, worshipper, or minister. You may start with the basics and the Lord will develop you as you move in Him. The understanding of your function as a dancer will help you decide which invitations to accept and which to decline. I have been propelled into the arena of ministry in dance and prophetic movement. This means that I am often frustrated during many traditional "dance concerts" and "stage productions" because my assignment is not necessarily to be watched. I am a dancer on Kingdom assignment.
We must be secure enough to know when to say no. When I am unable to accept an invitation to dance, I will offer an alternate dancer or ministry that may be a better fit for what the host is looking for. This does not mean that I think that I am better than anyone else. The Lord has not called the ministry He has given me to provide entertainment for people. We must continue to ask the Lord to lead us in the paths that He ordains, and obey His direction.
Isaiah 1:12-14 (NKJV)
“When you come to appear before Me,
Who has required this from your hand,
To trample My courts?
Bring no more futile sacrifices;
Incense is an abomination to Me.
The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—
I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.
Your New Moons and your appointed feasts
My soul hates;
They are a trouble to Me,
I am weary of bearing them."
Anyone can be a liturgical dancer. Not everyone is a sincere praiser, worshipper, or minister. You may start with the basics and the Lord will develop you as you move in Him. The understanding of your function as a dancer will help you decide which invitations to accept and which to decline. I have been propelled into the arena of ministry in dance and prophetic movement. This means that I am often frustrated during many traditional "dance concerts" and "stage productions" because my assignment is not necessarily to be watched. I am a dancer on Kingdom assignment.
We must be secure enough to know when to say no. When I am unable to accept an invitation to dance, I will offer an alternate dancer or ministry that may be a better fit for what the host is looking for. This does not mean that I think that I am better than anyone else. The Lord has not called the ministry He has given me to provide entertainment for people. We must continue to ask the Lord to lead us in the paths that He ordains, and obey His direction.
Isaiah 1:12-14 (NKJV)
“When you come to appear before Me,
Who has required this from your hand,
To trample My courts?
Bring no more futile sacrifices;
Incense is an abomination to Me.
The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—
I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.
Your New Moons and your appointed feasts
My soul hates;
They are a trouble to Me,
I am weary of bearing them."
Sunday, March 2, 2008
It Wasn't the Nails...
We must be careful when coming up with "the rules" of movement ministry. The Lord's will and design for us is precise and exact. Is there ever a time that we should sacrifice our personal sense of style for the sake of the ministry?
For the Ladies: Are your fancy fingernails a distraction to the message that you are trying to deliver? Do you ever consider your hairstyle just as relevant to the ministry as the music and garments? Bright green and blue designs on our fingernails may lead to the admiration of our peers, but this may very well be a hinderance to the message. Do you want the hear someone compliment your "nice nails," right after you minister and have nothing else to say? I pray not.
For the Gentlemen: What role does your hair play in ministry? Do you favor fanciful designs or colorful personal expressions with your hair or earlobes? Do you try to hide that tongue ring while you are dancing so that no one will notice it? Is there anything that you are doing right now that brings more attention to you and less to God?
Nail artwork, facial piercings, neck tattoos and hair art may be interesting subjects of conversation and may be very creative; however, when the message of the cross is overshadowed by "us," we are doing a disservice to the ministry. We must seek the Lord earnestly concerning how He wants our temples adorned. There will be no greater satisfaction than hearing the words "Well done!"
Romans 6: 11-13 (NKJV)
"Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God."
For the Ladies: Are your fancy fingernails a distraction to the message that you are trying to deliver? Do you ever consider your hairstyle just as relevant to the ministry as the music and garments? Bright green and blue designs on our fingernails may lead to the admiration of our peers, but this may very well be a hinderance to the message. Do you want the hear someone compliment your "nice nails," right after you minister and have nothing else to say? I pray not.
For the Gentlemen: What role does your hair play in ministry? Do you favor fanciful designs or colorful personal expressions with your hair or earlobes? Do you try to hide that tongue ring while you are dancing so that no one will notice it? Is there anything that you are doing right now that brings more attention to you and less to God?
Nail artwork, facial piercings, neck tattoos and hair art may be interesting subjects of conversation and may be very creative; however, when the message of the cross is overshadowed by "us," we are doing a disservice to the ministry. We must seek the Lord earnestly concerning how He wants our temples adorned. There will be no greater satisfaction than hearing the words "Well done!"
Romans 6: 11-13 (NKJV)
"Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God."
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Men, Women, Boys and Girls
When God created Adam and Eve, He created them as compliments to each other. Although in Christ there is neither male nor female, this is a Spiritual revelation of how we are one. In Genesis, the Lord created them male and female (naturally and physically). There should be a distinction of this truth in our movement ministries.
I often see females in movement ministries dressed in overtly masculine attire, and at times see males in what could be perceived as feminine attire. The Gospel is universal, so this refers to perception more than our cultural differences. We must be careful to guard against anything that would open up a doorway for error. We should not be deceptive in our demonstration of the Word. When we worship Him in Spirit and Truth, then we must not seek to display what He has not created.
We do not want to send mixed signals when we minister. If we trust the Lord, He will instruct us concerning exactly how we are to move, what we are to wear, and what message He is trying to send. When we trust Him with all that we are, then He will lead us into all truth.
Matthew 19:4 (NKJV)
"And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’"
Mark 10:6 (NKJV)
"But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’"
I often see females in movement ministries dressed in overtly masculine attire, and at times see males in what could be perceived as feminine attire. The Gospel is universal, so this refers to perception more than our cultural differences. We must be careful to guard against anything that would open up a doorway for error. We should not be deceptive in our demonstration of the Word. When we worship Him in Spirit and Truth, then we must not seek to display what He has not created.
We do not want to send mixed signals when we minister. If we trust the Lord, He will instruct us concerning exactly how we are to move, what we are to wear, and what message He is trying to send. When we trust Him with all that we are, then He will lead us into all truth.
Matthew 19:4 (NKJV)
"And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’"
Mark 10:6 (NKJV)
"But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’"
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