The David Lee Martin Show - Holy Ghost Encouragement For Christian Creatives

In my desire to get this message across I’ve spent the past few minutes trying to concoct a clever slant. Some greasy play on words or curiosity inducing enticement to continue reading.

I don’t have one.

The message will stand or fall on it’s own merits. It’s one that has significant implications. 

I want to take a little time to talk Hamster wheels.

I was certainly in Hamster mode for many years. Spinning plates, scurrying between projects, hustling in life and hassling in prayer. Little surprise I burned out and came crashing back to the arms of the Father looking for a better way.

The thing is, when the wheel is spinning, life and time take on a life of their own. Jumping off takes courage, and may well leave you with a few bruises when you leap into the unknown, wondering who you are and why you are here.

“Martha, Martha” is the refrain many of us might hear if we took a moment to stop the madness, and incline our ear.

Martha was “cumbered with many things, distracted with much serving, anxious, and troubled” the Bible says. 

All the while “only one (or but a few things) were necessary.” (Luke 10:41).

Only One or But A Few

One of the greatest questions you can ask the Lord is, “What is my one, or but a few, things?”

The thing is, the answer may mean laying down or cutting off some of the “many things” that currently keep you scurrying. That takes courage. The busyness sometimes becomes our identity. Our security is derived from the many things we occupy ourselves with.

There’s a fear that stopping will not only break the cycle and frantic momentum we have steamed up, but that it will break us. 

Scripture speaks to this cultural disease in Matthew 11.

“Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.” Matthew 11:29 MESSAGE

Walking In Pace With Grace

In my conversation with the Holy Ghost this morning we spoke about pace. Walking in pace with the prince of Peace. 

I asked Him about His pace. 

He is the pace maker. Hearing is His heartbeat. 

The unforced rhythm you are looking for can be described best in the original picture of man and his Maker.

Two friends walking and talking together in the cool of the day.

“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” Genesis 3:8

Walking, listening, talking.

It’s hard to hear on the hamster wheel. 

Take courage and take the leap.

What of the many do you need to jettison, and what of the few do you need to focus on? 

Let faith lead your forward as you embrace the pace, and believe in the good providence of God for your journey.

I’m glad that the words, “It is finished!” Came out of Jesus mouth, not “I am finished.” I’m all in for small beginnings, incremental progress, and making bold moves, but there’s a valley full of corpses that lies between the two peaks of every creative project.

The beginning of a thing.

And the completion.

Between the two a blood drenched chasm where many a creative has given up the ghost and let their dream idea gasp its final breath.

Just as the Scriptures encourage us not to despise beginnings, however inauspicious they may feel, the Holy Ghost also makes mention of the other factor in that equation.

“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8 KJV)

Better to be a finisher than just a starter.

Here are 3 keys that will help you do that!

Read more?

https://davidleemartin.com/be-a-finisher/

If you’ve not already been introduced, there’s a new hotspot for conversations taking place – a virtual hub of lively debate called Clubhouse.

It’s an app by the way. Niche specific rooms with real time audio conversations.

Hordes of hungry covid-incarcerated thought leaders, and think-followers, are crowding in to engage together in live, as-it-happens, conversations around just about any topic you can imagine. Some rooms are bursting with hundreds of participants, all eagerly “raising their hands” to take the stage. Others are more intimate discussions among friends and avid fans.

It’s presently in beta, and works by one user inviting another two, making it somewhat compelling when you sit on the outside waiting for an opening.

The next thing in social?

Innovative viral marketing and the buzz that this is the “next thing in social” is stirring up quite a storm of enthusiasm and curiosity. Whether the optimistic prophecies are true or not will be played out in time.

For now, Facebook feeds and other places of engagement are filling with requests for an invite.

But let me divert for a moment and recommend another conversation. 

Another Clubhouse.

Heaven has a clubhouse

It’s been open for a long time now.

No app required. Fully matured but always experimental and wildly innovative. Deep and wide all at once, and fired by the inspiration of three Co-hosts who blow me away every single day.

Want to read more?

https://davidleemartin.com/have-you-joined-clubhouse-heaven-yet-let-me-send-you-an-invite/

I don’t recommend you do this (I do really, but maybe not when you are waiting in line to pay for your groceries).

I used to work for a newspaper. Not as a writer or undercover reporter or anything glamorous like that. I just laid out the pages and designed ads for local businesses. 

The press office was over the road from a supermarket, so lunch usually comprised of wandering across the street and a cheap sandwich. Amazing how routines play out day after day. 

My other routine is to chat with God as I go about my business. So much so, I sometimes do it without thinking.

Thing is, I forget that many (most) other people don’t share that routine. 

On this particular day I arrived back in the office, and Kate, one of my colleagues, said (in a friendly way, I think), “I used to think you were crazy, but now I know that you are.” 

Feigning hurt, I asked her why.

“I saw you stood in line at Asda (the name of the supermarket chain) talking to yourself.” 

Supposedly, the saying goes that talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity. At least that’s what the devil would like you to believe. It really depends what you are saying, I guess.

I corrected Kate of course, and told her that on this occasion I was not talking to myself, I was talking to God. I also informed her that talking to God is actually the first sign of…

Sanity.

Want to read more?

https://davidleemartin.com/talking-to-god-in-the-supermarket-and-the-first-sign-of-sanity/

At one time you were so minuscule you could not be seen with a naked eye. You may even feel just as insignificant today as you did at conception, hidden in the crowd and voiceless. You would not be alone.

It’s easy in the mass of humanity to feel like a nobody, especially with the curated stream of success stories and gorgeous selfies we gorge on. It can get to the point where you feel as powerless to make an impact as that fragile embryo swimming in its mother’s juices.

But God can see.

He does not need a microscope to notice you.

He does not need a hearing aid to discern your voice.

He saw you when you were knitted in your momma’s womb.

“For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalms 139:13 AMPLIFIED

“My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths” Psalms 139:15 AMPLIFIED

You are significant.

From the moment of conception to the day of your demise God is passionately interested in you, and all that you have to offer the world

It is easy to fall prey to the powers of the terrible twins, the crushers of creativity, and dampers of dreams…

Procrastination and Perfectionism.

Procrastination says, “tomorrow”, and perfectionism takes it a step further and says, “never”. Taken together they have stolen a thousand dreams and prevented countless initiatives.

When Jesus said, “be ye perfect even as you father in Heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48) He was not suggesting that you take a lifetime polishing your halo before you step out and help someone. Thankfully, Jesus took care of the perfect piece of the pie, liberating you to step out boldly in all your weird and unpolished ways and learn, grow and improve as you go.

Don’t need 3 degrees and a PHD before you put a pen to paper.

Don’t need to know everything before you do something.

Take a step today and throw caution to the wind. Start where you are at and make a move.

Want To Read More?

https://davidleemartin.com/turning-your-hopes-into-habits-one-insignificant-move-at-a-time/

Your life is a ship, and your tongue is the rudder. So says James, the brother of Jesus:

“…take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body…” (James 3:4–5 NIV)

The words on your lips steer your life.

Tug Boat Words & Let’s Go Promises

There are also other words that direct us, and the Holy Ghost today described them to me as being like tug boats that we attach our faith to and guide us into harbour.

Our faith will always be hitched to a word. Always. Without exception, there’s a word that our faith is attached to tugging us in one direction or another.

God asked me today what words I’m hitching my future to?

I want to ask you the same question.

Choose Your Destination Harbour

Let me remind you of another boat, one crowded with rowdy disciples. Strong men of action, not unfamiliar with choppy weather and adverse conditions.

Here they were hitched to the words of their Captain, “Let us go to the other side” (Mark 4:38). Then it happened. A massive, sudden, and shocking storm that terrified even the hardy fishermen among them.

In the face of adversity, they unhitched their faith from the words, “let’s go to the other side” and instead secured them to, “God doesn’t care and we are all perishing!”

Which harbour destination would you choose? “The other side” or “Lord, we perish!”

Is this not the challenge that we face too? God speaks and we hitch ourselves to His words, we cherish them, allowing them to pull us forward in faith.

You look across from where you are now, to where God wants to take you and start making moves.

Then something happens that runs contrary to the promise we have cherished, and it seems God has hit the snooze button.

Want to Read More?

https://davidleemartin.com/lets-go-promises-and-tugboats-two-keys-to-steer-your-ship-into-harbour/

Taking action is the only way to learn what really works.

That does not mean you are the cornerstone of your success, or that more action taking will automatically lead to more results. What it does mean is that motion puts things in motion to move towards the results you dream of. You learn far more by doing than by watching, reading or listening.

Best case scenario: Do all four, read, listen, watch, do.

But if you have to lean into percentages, weigh toward the doing rather than perpetual learning, thinking or planning.

Taking Massive Mini Action

Actions do not to need to be massive.

The biggest thing is the actual decision to make a move. That’s where the massive implications play out. Most often the actions themselves are quite obvious and natural. They may not be easy, but they are natural, not alien.

I’m sure you have heard the favourite saying in entrepreneurial circles, “take massive action.” Usually what it means is “take a massive chunk out of your bank account and buy my course, coaching, or service.” But most of the time, and this coming from someone who has spent over $30,000 on training and coaching this year alone, what we need is not more training, it’s doing the things we have already trained in.

Want to read more?

https://davidleemartin.com/take-muscly-mini-actions-today-and-crush-your-competition/

You are creative!

There, I’ve said it.

You may disagree or you may not - but the truth remains. 

If you are living and breathing today there is a deep treasure inside you that deserves to be explored and expressed.

Our multi-faceted, colourful, unhindered humanity is a doorway for divinity - the overflow of our Father’s rich heart into the world around us.

After all, He is the Creator!

And you are made in His image. A unique expression of His heart endued with uncommon giftings.

For years I have had the desire in my heart to champion the callings of the vast community of creative Christians residing on our planet.

Sometimes you just have to exercise patience until a thought is fully formed. A premature baby gasps for life, but a full formed infant, when its ready to be unleashed on a waiting world, hollers its arrival.

That’s exactly how I feel about this message. It is hollering inside me - refusing to stay inside a moment longer.

I believe with all my heart that’s God’s people - the Jesus loving following radicals of our Father in Heaven - are called to a new renaissance of creative expression in every sector of society.

I believe that He is raising up a new generation of revolutionary thinkers who have tapped the mind of Christ and opened the floodgates of their imagination, and so become conduits for Heaven’s agenda right her on earth.

This podcast a call to fellow revolutionaries.

And with that said, welcome to the David Lee Martin show!