What is “normal” in our everyday life has changed on every level, and I wanted to share my thoughts on how we can rise above yesterday’s norms and step into a brighter future.

I know for many of us, these last 6 months have been difficult since the COVID spread, and so I want to start there, since this is a topic that has, and is, impacting all of us.

How have you been impacted?

Groundhog Day

If you are not familiar with the movie, “Groundhog Day,” I would highly recommend it.  It’s a romantic comedy starring Bill Murray.  It’s about a man who wakes up to the same morning over and over again until he discovers how to live his life for others.

I don’t know about you, but I felt I was living in the movie!  COVID restrictions changed where we worked, went to school, communicated with others, and shopped. It’s like we were stuck in the same place, trying to figure out how we could get out of the same routine of waking, eating, then eating again, working, then eating again, then watching the news, eating again, and then watching the news, and then staying up all night praying for the COVID to end.

Sometimes I would change the way I placed my toothbrush, just to add variety to my day.

At first, I thought that life would soon return to normal, but after two months, three months, and now six months, we are getting more restrictions, and the bans are not lifting.

What’s worse is that these restrictions are now affecting our children going back to school, small businesses shutting their doors permanently, connections with the elderly, and those dying.  This is all taking a toll on all of us emotionally. 

This isn’t about a physical virus, it’s morphed into a psychological warfare tactic of the enemy.

I feel like COVID 19 is the enemy’s plot to detonate fear into the heart of every person and to dismantle hope for our future.  But we know whenever the enemy comes in like a flood, we know God will raise up a standard greater than the enemy’s loudest roar.

Harvest Time

Get ready.  The massive harvest is coming, and God is awakening Kingdom creatives to start to create hope that counters the enemy’s plans.  

Let’s first take a look at God’s heart for the church and how God is countering the move of the enemy. If we ever want to see the harvest, the church has to change her overarching course towards raising up harvesters.

New Wineskin For The Church

I was so grieved when church services were canceled. I had gone to church every Sunday since I was a baby and I have very rarely missed a Sunday service.  Seriously, I love church.  It’s my jam.  It’s my passion.

I was perplexed because I had never been in this situation before. Church canceled in America?  What?  You’ve got to be kidding- right?  Wrong!

Not going to church made me angry inside because I believe every person has the right to go to church, and I believe that God has, and can, heal the sick amongst us, so this went against all that I believed.

It wasn’t that I wanted to expose people to COVID, rather I had a stronger belief that God’s protection, and ability to heal, would be greater than the enemy’s power.  The government was asking that all church services stop, but what was God’s counteroffer?

I seriously was wrestling with this, and through that conflict, an idea began to emerge.  

Maybe through this COVID season, God was trying to get my attention to the “essentials” of the gospel. “Essentials” is now a keyword in all of our vocabulary, which is why so many Americans ran out of toilet paper and other household goods!  What IS essential to us as believers?

This led me to study “TRUTH.”  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

His concept of church growth was to hang out with 12 unknown men for 3 years, which managed to turn the world upside down after Pentecost. The Apostle Paul faced so many hardships, was left for dead after he was stoned, and then went back into that city to preach.  Again, no church building needed.

The truth was staring me right in the face.  Persecution in the early church led to a massive revival, as believers had to flee from Jerusalem. Political problems for early believers led to more converts, as well as to the church spreading into other lands.

What were the “essentials” in the early days of the church that kept them strong? Was it going to conferences or meetings in the Synagogues regularly? In Acts, we find that believers met together, bonding through studying scripture, eating together, ministering to others’ needs, and doing life together.  Because of this, God added to their number (Acts 2:47).

Instead of getting angry that church wasn’t happening the way it usually was, I became excited and began to talk to my friends and family about this new wineskin.

My husband, Kevin, and I are now starting a small group at our home, where we are doing life with those God has called us to be with right here in Redding.  We are creating together through art, food, and music.  I am excited because this model can happen in any home and in any city around the globe.

I want to encourage you to reach out to those God has already given you, and meet house to house, letting the Holy Spirit breathe upon this new wineskin of revival fire!

Kingdom Creative Communities

In March, I was all set to go to the UK to minister for 10 days, when all travel to Europe was put on hold because of COVID 19 outbreaks.  One after another of my trips were canceled.  I am so passionate about equipping churches in Kingdom Creative theology, and then this door seemed to slam shut. I was angry and righteously so. 

So, I prayed.

The next day, I talked to Chuck McCollum from Psalm 84 church in the Bay Area to let him know my disappointment that I would not be there in April to put on a Creative conference at his church. During our conversation, I asked him if he would be willing to put on a Bay Area Creative Conference through an online platform instead of an in-person gathering, and he said yes!

On May 2nd Chuck hosted an incredible creative conference that touched so many under my leadership. It was fantastic!  We had different creative workshops, worship, and main sessions- all through an online platform!

This led me to ask God if He would help me put Bethel School of Creativity online, which was scheduled for mid-May.

I have led the School of Creativity at Bethel since 2009 and have seen so many people get touched and transformed through the daily workshops, prophetic creative booths, and main speakers. It didn’t seem right to cancel this annual event, so we put on the School of Creativity, June 14 and 15 via zoom and saw almost 700 people attend!

Imagine what would’ve happened if I had not fought for these creative conferences online, which was a huge learning curve for me.  I believe creative communities going online are part of God’s strategy to bring us together all around the world!

I have never done Facebook LIve, and now I go on that platform weekly, prophesying through my art and poetry, and have had so many people join me!  I am connecting weekly with my Create Academy students to encourage them, as well as hosting a monthly Create Connect Webinar because I care about our Kingdom Creative’s wellbeing and growth. 

It’s imperative in this season, to find your creative community and grow! 

If I can take risks to launch into the online world, so can you!  Kingdom creative communities are the answer for us to grow socially, spiritually, and creatively in this next season.

Pursue Personal Dreams

This summer I decided to write and create an “Art and Poetry Interactive Journal Book.”  It’s something I have always wanted to create but never had the time.  In doing this, I feel that I can share my stories of the heart through my poems and artwork, which can help others discover what’s in their own heart.

What’s on your heart, and what have you put off that you are called to do creatively?

Today, ask God to give you His plans to start moving forward to follow your dreams and make them a reality.

The last higher perspective I want to share about is the spiritual awakening that is next going to hit the globe because I want you to be a part of it.

Harvest Is HERE!

In July, I went on vacation to Southern California, where I went to college, pastored for many years, and raised my family with my husband, Kevin.  I believed this was going to be a strategic trip for my husband and me, who had planted our church in Huntington Beach over 30 years ago. I was so excited because I was hearing about an event called “Saturate OC,”  where God was moving on many churches gathering together to see people come to the Lord and baptize people at Huntington Beach.

Believers came bringing those who needed Jesus, where they experienced worship, a gospel message, a call to know Jesus, and then be baptized.

So we were excited to attend, where over 2,000 people had gathered on the sand.  It was such a powerful move of the Spirit, as people were encountering Jesus.  At one point, the police tried to shut us down, but no one moved, we just sang louder — no one can cancel Jesus.

Kevin and I were able to encourage so many people and were able to prophesy over several who had just been baptized.  A person I had raised up at my School of Creativity painted that night and gave the painting to the leaders, who were deeply impacted by the significance of that painting.

The leaders, Parker and Jessie Green, steps of faith are now leading to many small groups sprouting up all over Southern California to bring in the harvest.  Just last week Pastor Tim Felker from Father’s House brought out his pottery wheel to the Huntington Beach Pier area and began to create, while Jessi Dahlquist, an artist friend of mine created next to him.  Children and youth were gathered around a table giving away prophetic art.  What was the outcome?   Tons of people saw Jesus’ love outside of attending a church service, and several had an encounter in which they were saved and received the Holy Spirit, right there at the pier.

This is the new church model!  Christians gathering around creative strategies to win the lost, and touch communities with the love of Christ.

If you want to learn how to partner with the Holy Spirit to transform the atmosphere and bring hope I encourage you to check out my Create Academy where you can find eCourses that equip you to supernaturally create with God.

The World Is Waiting For YOU To Create

Let’s get rid of the idea that life will return back to normal and follow the Father onto a new path, where you can follow your dreams, find your creative community, and be the church to those who are hurting and afraid.

You are created to overcome.  You were made to break down any wall of fear, and find a better way of loving, living, and being.

I pray that you stop for a moment, and ask God what He is saying to you right now, and find His higher perspective for your life.

Remember, He is the way, the truth, and the life.  Groundhog days are over when you have the One who created you to overcome living inside of you!

You are Born to Create to bring in a huge harvest!

Learn More

Do you want to learn how to create with God like the churches in Huntington Beach that used creativity to connect people to the heart of God? Check out Create Academy, my online creative school that will equip you with everything you need to learn how to touch people’s lives through what you create. Click here to find out more.