David Lee Martin

“Let’s know, let’s press on to know the Lord; whose appearing is as certain as the dawn; who will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that give drink to the earth.” Hosea 6:2-4 CEB

Knowing God is the aim. Whatever situations you face, whatever ambitions you chase. Wherever you find yourself in the journey, be it good, be it bad.

See the signpost.

It reads…

Let us press on.

Let us know Him more fully and follow more freely.

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly]” Philippians 3:10, AMP

Angels must wonder

at the grace they see given

to sinful men

such as I.

They must speak secretly of their yearning

to know the One who loves me

in the way that

I’m invited.

From darkness to the light

I saw with open eyes

a thousand angel voices

lifting praises to the skies

Their song was one of wonder

at the love that You bestow

the commission to your saved ones

to forsake their life and go.

Child of God

beloved daughter son

humbled by the Master’s love

The world awaits your tongue

Speak your truth

and share your worth

shame has gone

with second birth.

Yes,

angels stand in wonder

Ten thousand thousand strong

A chorus rising higher

to sing redemption’s song.

“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Come ye therefore to church on Sunday, and sit ye in a pew listening to sermons until I return.” (Matthew 28:18–19 T21CITRITBV)

Great swathes of the church are muzzled by the false notion that ministry is limited to a select few.

The silence of the lambs is deafening.

The idea that the work of the church is reserved for a chosen few behind the walls of a sacred building prevails.

All the while, those same silent lambs are the building!

“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5 KJV)

The great commission it seems, has become the greatest omission of all time!

Dear lively stone, you have a voice.

Stop waiting for a pulpit.

It’s time for the lambs to be loud.

The world that you’ve been sent to is no longer distant. The Lord has prepared pathways for this generation to reach the ends of the earth without leaving their living room.

Think about that.

Conduits of Grace

I spoke with my musician friend yesterday and encouraged him to open conduits for his talent, not wait for a gatekeeper to fling open the doors. Just sit down, write, record, and send his work to the world through YouTube or Spotify.

What about writers?

Yes, you!

What are you waiting for?

No wall stands in the way of your publishing. Why are the words in your heart not yet on the page?

Teachers, prophets, evangelists. Platforms have been prepared for you to share what the Lord is speaking to you. Who has clipped your wings?

Love Local, Live Large

Don’t misunderstand me. I believe passionately in the local church expression. I pastored and planted churches for 20 years. I attend, serve in, and sow to the local body.

If I confined my fire behind the walls of Sunday service it would be a pitifully small blaze I could muster.

Faithful Creatives – I’m calling you out!

Telling you it’s time.

Love the local church. Serve and support the fellowship and gathering of saints. But do not stop there.

Find ways to free your creativity and fulfil the commission you’ve been given.

Stop reading the “Come ye therefore to church on Sunday, and sit ye in a pew listening to sermons until I return.” ‘21st Century Is That Really In The Bible Version’ and pick up the real thing…

“Go ye into all the world!”

Yes, ye!

It’s possible, and in Jesus’ name, I intend to shout it from the rooftops.

You can do it. Through books, podcasts, videos, email, courses and resources. Through blogs, journals, socials, streaming, print and pixel.

My commission?

To help you fulfil yours.

Today’s thoughts are powerful.

And liberating.

If you grasp them, you’ll cease striving.

Remember the story of the sower?

Jesus told it in Luke chapter 8.

The heart is the ground of the parable.

And boy oh boy does a yielded heart produce!

“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15 KJV)

Some thirty. Some sixty. Some one hundredfold!

How?

“…the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself;” (Mark 4:27–28 KJV)

There’s no secret here.

The heart of the believer is designed to be industrious. It naturally and patiently produces…

“…first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.”

Your inner man connected to God is a creative miracle.

This is who we are

We are creatives – we bear fruit, produce, and bring things forth.

We’re faithful – patient and persistent. We show up every day. We start small and go big.

Faithful Creatives.

That’s our tribe. It’s who we are, not just what we do.

Faithful Creatives are change makers, breakthrough bringers, freedom factories, forward thinkers.

We bring forth fruit with patience and change the world one word at a time.

What do you do when you ain’t feelin’ it?

When the engine isn’t humming and inspiration seems a universe away?

My suggestion…

Persist.

It’s a verb.

Verb: continue in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.

Despite being a writer, my English language skills are as rusty as the old school I used to attend as a child.

But I do remember this:

A verb is a “doing” word.

DO your way THROUGH.

The word persist originated in the mid-16th century from the Latin persistere (per- ‘through, steadfastly’ + sistere ‘to stand’).

Press through resistance and do something. Stand strong in your conviction that God has called you in this direction and take a step.

However small.

Sure, every day cannot be a home run, but you can get to first base.

Never let a day go by without at least one small action toward your biggest, most audacious goals.

It may seem like nothing, pointless or pathetic, but press through anyway.

Over time you’ll build a persistence muscle that exerts more pressure in forward motion than resistance presses to back you up.

It will get easier, and even on days when tiredness or discouragement comes knocking, you’ll stand up and step steadfastly through.

Selah.

Pause and think about that.

But not for too long…

Now stop thinking and go do it.