Category Archives: Creativity

May22

Or You Could Let It Die

Posted on by
Or You Could Let It Die

Teri

I have a lot of dreams.

I want to see the Body of Believers coming alive to their passions and dreams. I want to abundant life spilling out all over the place. I want to see all Christ-followers taking their role in God’s Kingdom work.

And, I want to write compelling stories that inspire people to dream bigger.

About 7 years ago, I wrote a non-fiction book called, Passionate Peace – The Art of Surrender. (You can still get a copy if you want!) I wrote a blog for 3 years called, Restless Peace – The Art of Trusting God in the Waiting. And I’ve written several workbooks and devotionals.

Non-fiction doesn’t scare me. It’s just like teaching without the whiteboard and Powerpoint.

I’ve never even considered writing fiction. I thought I’d leave that up to the really creative people.

About 4 years ago I had a “while you are sleeping” dream. It was a very intricate, interesting, and involved story. I woke up and realized I had almost all the details of a really cool fantasy/sci-fi novel. So, I wrote them down and then kept writing and writing and writing and writing and writing…

Then I had another dream of a story. I woke up and started writing that one down and kept writing.

Since that first dream, I’ve written about 1,000 pages of material; back history, character sketches, outlines, and copy. There are at least 7 different books in there somewhere. I have the first draft of one book done and am working on draft three of another.

I guess it was a few months ago when I realized God wanted me to finish these books .

Once again I have no idea how to do what God is asking me to do. I just know I have to do it.

When I started writing fiction I was absolutely terrible at it.

Nearly 1,000 pages and thousands of hours later, I’m now only fairly terrible at it. I’m improving!

I write from 5-6:30 am and from 9-10pm most days – squeezing it into my otherwise busy schedule. (I didn’t say it was easy.

I’ve been tempted and tempted often to let this dream die and chalk it up to the “tried and failed” category.

I have a feeling that most dreams die like this.

The gap between where I currently am (fairly terrible, unskilled, and about about 50,000 words of rewrites away from having anything I can publish), and where I want to be (published and an awesomely skilled writer) is quite large and very daunting.

If there is one thing I’ve learned about dreaming though, is that you don’t give up. If God is truly in this, and I believer he is, then I will get what I need just when I need it. Even if it isn’t what I think I need when I think I need it.

I’ve learned to trust him with my dream. He cares about it more than I do.

And I’ve also learned that God rarely uses money or time to motivate you to give up on the dream.

The biggest difference between people who see their dreams actualized and the rest of us is perseverance NOT talent.

If you are in the midst of a dream and it looks like you’ve hit a dead end, chances are it’s only meant to help you wait while another path is being opened up. Don’t give up.

For most people, that journey looks something like this:

tried…
failed…
learned…
adjusted…
realigned…
tried again…
failed again…
waited…
struggled…
learned…
grew more trusting…
adjusted again…
waiting again….
grew more patient…
realigned…
experienced peace…
struggled some more…
experienced joy…
and finally broke through…

This is the dream journey most people have to go through. You could embrace it.

Or you could just let it die…like millions of other dreams before yours.

What if we pushed through and kept working at it?

What if most dreams didn’t die before they became fully alive?

What does your dream journey look like?

May8

Health, Hollywood and Jesus

Posted on by
Health, Hollywood and Jesus

Molly

On the Dream Tour I’m not sure I learned anything brand new in terms of my dream, but things that I already knew were confirmed and solidified.

I’d like to share with you my passion and the next steps of my journey. Please pray with me as I move forward in faith.

MY PASSION
My main passion apart from loving the Lord full-time is to see the entertainment industry/ Hollywood rocked with the realization of the love of Jesus. God has put a burning within my heart to, first of all, PRAY for Hollywood, and second of all, work IN Hollywood (or the entertainment industry in general).

My dream is to create media that is thought provoking, pure in heart, and does a great job pointing to Jesus in a way that those who don’t follow Him can relate. Another dream is to be a part of relational ministry in Hollywood offering support to those caught in the trappings of the industry.

MY WHEREABOUTS
I just completed my Master’s of Science in Entertainment Business through Full Sail University in Orlando, FL. I learned some excellent, practical business principles that will propel me forward in the building of the dream. I constructed a business plan for a reality television production company that maybe will see the light of day one day. Time will tell.

In the fall, I will pursue additional media and ministry training through the International House of Prayer (IHOP) and their media school, the Forerunner Media Institute (FMI). I just applied for the school and should know in the next month if I’m accepted. I see this school as a foundational opportunity to be grounded in the Word, prayer, and also learn from some incredibly savvy media professionals.

GET HEALTHY!!!
Another way that I’m pursuing my dreams and passion is building a business that helps others reach their health and fitness goals.

I’m helping promote a health challenge that is absolutely ROCKING North America. It’s called the Body By Vi 90 Day Challenge, through an amazing company, ViSalus Sciences. Teri, Julie and I started the challenge while on tour together, and are continuing it over the next three months. It’s a great way to stay accountable and also have fun!

In helping others with their goals, I am able to build some income that will go directly towards my media ventures, including school in the fall. Take a look at my website (mollyptaszek.bodybyvi.com) and see if this might be something you’d enjoy as well! A bonus, you very easily get your products for free. Can’t beat free!

LESSONS LEARNED
Easily (or, not so easily) the biggest lesson I have learned so far in this journey is that I’m on the Lord’s timetable.

I began my pursuit of the industry back in 2002 and it’s been quite a road thus far. I have had to learn over and over to surrender the dreams and passions to Him, and trust that He is far more interested in me reaching them than I ever could.

It just looks a lot different that I would have imagined.

This past decade has been a training ground for the Lord to test, refine and mold into the woman and daughter HE desires. I can try to run ahead of Him, but it ain’t gonna work, sister! I’ve learned it’s best to go on His clock.

Also, I’ve learned that enemy does indeed like to steal, kill, and destroy.

I have to be on guard with my passion and dreams realizing that the enemy would do all that he could to get me off course. It’s critical that I stay so utterly connected to the Father so I can walk out HIS orders and HIS timing, rather than getting perpetually slimmed by the enemy.

It’s so true that the enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy, while the Lord comes to bring life and life ABUNDANT!

PLEASE PRAY ME AND SUPPORT MY JOURNEY!
To keep up with my journey in the coming months I’ll periodically blog about a couple things – my journey of pursuing media and Hollywood; and health and wellness. I promise it will be exciting! Here’s the bare bones site if you’d like to add it to your RSS/Google reader/etc. – Health, Hollywood, and Jesus.

  • Please pray for me that I walk with tunnel vision on the Lord and His plans, not mine.
  • Pray that I will walk in full confidence and authority of my identity as the royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9) and daughter of Most High King.
  • Pray that I hear clearly and do only what the Father asks of me.
  • Pray for divine connections within the industry who also have the same heart for the Kingdom.
  • Pray for my health business to launch well so that people can be free and healthy to walk out their kingdom assignments, and so that I can fund my kingdom dreams as well as others! I want to GIVE, GIVE, GIVE!!! Remember that for future reference, all you missionaries out there…with the fruits of the wellness business, I will sow right back into the Kingdom!
  • Lastly, Pray for Hollywood!!! If you’re interested in receiving occasional updates from one of my favorite Hollywood ministries, check out Hollywood Prayer Network.

Thank you and many blessings to all who read this!
Feel free to contact me if you have questions, encouragements, suggestions-
E-mail: mollyptaszek@hotmail.com
Twitter: @mollyptaszek
Facebook: mollyptaszek
And, just for the fun of it, Instagram: mollyptaszek

Nov25

Don’t Separate – Integrate!

Posted on by
Don’t Separate – Integrate!

It was one of those last minute GOD things when we met up with Caleb.  It was a beautiful and very bright morning in Durham.

Caleb chatted about school and his passions and dreams.  As he talked, it became more and more evident that what he was learning in school (media and film) fit very nicely with his passion for missions and Kingdom work.

He doesn’t need to choose between his Kingdom dream and his passion
for creative media.   He only has to integrate them!

Here’s his story in his words:

My dream is to take the Kingdom to the places it’s never invaded before. I want to help plant churches, connect believers, and be a part of the ministry of reconciliation. God is so good. I’m just blown away by His provision and blessing. His ways are not our ways. His plans are way better.

I’m learning that my Kingdom Dreams and my other dreams aren’t really separate. It’s all one and the same. I love film and web design. I’m good at it too. God gave me a unique perspective and I love to explore it. I used to think I’d have to choose: missions or media — kingdom or creativity. God is redeeming that! He is showing me that the dreams He has placed in me are mine to grow and develop. He loves my perspective and wants me to love it too.

I had sort of lost sight of that for a while. Then I saw Lisa Anderson‘s Facebook post about being in North Carolina. I hadn’t seen her in a while and said she should come to Raleigh. Perfectly enough, she was on her way that day with the Kingdom Dreams tour. We met at my favorite coffee shop, along with the rest of the team, and the Holy Spirit. What followed was a wonderful time of encouragement, prayer, and revival of dreams. I’m so thankful for what God is doing with this ministry.

Speaking of a different perspective…I love this picture Lily took of me!!