GOD'S MINISTRY FOR EXPRESSIVE ARTS 

PRAYER FOR PERSEVERANCE

Heavenly Father, 
Please help me to focus on Your: 
Presence and not the pressure, 
Promise and not the problems, 
Praise and not the pain. 
In Jesus name I pray, Amen

CONNECTION BETWEEN EXPRESSIVE ARTS AND HEALTH

I have been researching the benefits of and connection between expressive arts and health and discovered some interesting facts! There is evidence that expressive arts are effective in minimizing adverse mental and biological consequences but the extent of their enhancements are unknown. Evidence has shown that engaging with artistic activities, either observing or participating in it, can enhance one's moods, emotions, and other psychological states as well as have a notable impact on important physiological parameters (Stuckey & Nobel, 2010). 
I've also learned that the World Health Organization (WHO) has a different perspective on health and views it in a more holistic light than I previously believed. WHO's definition of holistic health is: 

"viewing man in his totality within a wide ecological spectrum, and … emphasizing the view that ill health or disease is brought about by an imbalance, or disequilibrium, of man in his total ecological system and not only by the causative agent and pathogenic evolution. (Stuckey & Nobel, 2010) (p13)"  


With this perspective, health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being rather than merely the absence of disease or infirmity (Stuckey & Nobel, 2010). 

God's Ministry for Expressive Arts takes on a more holistic approach that focuses on emotional, social, cognitive, physical, and spiritual health and how we cope with and process our trials with the helping hand of God. Our main goals are to help you learn to positively approach difficult situations and emotions on all levels as well as create space for God to step in and help you heal and grow. 
#GodsMinistry #ExpressiveArts #Health #Healing #Holistic 

Reference Stuckey, H. L., & Nobel, J. (2010, February). The connection between art, healing, and public health: A review of current literature. American journal of public health. Retrieved May 16, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2804629/#__ffn_sectitle 

REMINDER!

Hey everyone! I pray you all are having a blessed and obedient day ✝️😇 
Remember: 
-Stay holy 
-Be grateful for what you currently have 
-Give your thoughts and feelings to God (happiness, excitement, nervousness, anxieties, etc.) 
-Spend time with Him today, He loves to hear from you 
-Get some fresh air (walking, running, biking, sitting on your porch, opening your windows, etc.) 
-Positively express yourselves with Christ's unfailing love 
-Create something to help you feel good about yourself (drawing, painting, food, music, sculpture, crafts, etc.) 

May our God continue to bless you 🌷,
KasSandra Owens 

#StayHoly #BeGratefulEveryday #LoveYourself #JesusLovesYou #Amen #Christian #ChristianLiving

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRIALS, PERSEVERANCE, AND TRUSTING GOD THROUGHOUT IT ALL 

I use expressive painting often as a tool to help me work through those difficult to release emotions such as feelings of betrayal, the feeling I get when I'm lied to, when I make a big mistake, when I accidentally fail others or myself, etc. It's helped me release the darkness inside by allowing me to put it into art thus creating space inside of me for more of God's light to shine through and heal my broken parts. I pray that it will be able to do the same for you 🙏🏾✝️

Here is an excerpt from the first healing assignment from my book, How-To Create Space for God to: Heal You and Strengthen Your Connection with Him Through Expressive Arts, to help you understand the importance of trials, perseverance, and trusting God throughout it all: 

" It was late, around 1 in the morning, and I was up talking with God and reflecting on my life in 2021. That year was particularly rough for me and that's really saying something because I've had a very rough upbringing... I'm an introvert so I hang around a handful of relatives and I have even less people that I consider to be my friend. In 2021, I had a major falling out with my parents, brother, sister, other close relatives, and my main best friend and all within a few consecutive months. I was blatantly disrespected, lied on, publicly humiliated, given horrendously bad advice, betrayed, isolated, under brutal spiritual warfare, and ultimately left for dead; with no one around in the end but a sketchy boyfriend who, despite his shortcomings, prayed for me and with me wholeheartedly. In fact, he reintroduced me to Christ and it was through Christ that I was saved from literal death. 

 I said all that to say this, God helped me realize that I had to go through each soul crushing event. I had to be disrespected. I had to be alone. I had to be lied on. I had to be talked about. I had to learn that most of my loved ones didn't want to see me succeed in life. I had to learn to stand with God, to depend on Him and Him alone because all humans are flawed and will fail me in one way or another. I had to learn that if someone is lying on and talking about other people then chances are they'll do the same to me. I had to learn how to gracefully walk away to maintain my peace. All those experiences lead me to this moment right here, with God and with you. I am the current perfectly imperfect version of myself today because of those trials and looking back I wouldn't change them even if I could. 
Would you?

 Those experiences taught me many things that I am sharing with you throughout this series but the 3 you're focusing on in this assignment are acceptance, trusting God, and perseverance. It's through God that you'll begin to create space for healing and receive help healing your wounds/scars. It's through me that you'll begin to learn to pour your heart out into your artwork thus creating beautifully expressive pieces. This process works for me and I'm confident it'll work for you as well. We must continue to ask God for spiritual growth, wisdom, and strength to grow closer to Him and better understand the messages and signs that He shares with us daily. It's because of said spiritual development that you will be able to begin the process of or continue to understand, accept, and then make peace with your trials so that you can learn the necessary lessons He's teaching you and move on stronger and wiser. As well as live peacefully and joyfully no matter the storms that come your way. I'm praying for spiritual growth, wisdom, and strength for each and every one of you. 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. James 1:2‭-‬8 NIV 

1. Name 1 thing that is difficult for you to accept about your past. Maybe you lost your job, you had to move when you didn't want to, a loved one passed away, you didn't speak up for someone, a loved one betrayed you, no one ever apologized to you for what they did, you lied on someone, someone lied on you, you owe someone an apology but never gave it...whatever it is just take a moment to observe the chain of events that happened after that difficult moment. What role did it play in shaping you into who you are today? Are the results good, bad, or both? In what ways did our Heavenly Father help you through those trying times?

-Focus on your feelings as you think about that, let them flow freely in your mind and heart. It's okay to feel both good and bad emotions in life, it's normal to allow yourself you feel both of them. Feel emotions as you reflect on this. You're free to pray about it, cry, scream, pace, smile, be still, etc. do and say what you feel comfortable with in association with your emotions 

-Next I want you to select the colors and art tools that match how you feel, don't spend too much time on this part because you can change them as needed; you just need to have a few to begin your artwork 

-Get comfortable and continue to let your emotions flow as you work, visualize your emotions swirling, falling, pouring, dripping etc. from your heart, into your mind, through your hands and finally into each stroke of your art tool. Remember that it's okay to feel. In fact, let it all out. It's okay 

-Continue to verbally and physically express yourself as you continue to let your emotions flow freely through you and into your art. You're not alone, God is with you plus we all have experiences that have hurt us and we're all currently hurting to some degree. Ask God to walk you through and thank Him in advance for answering your prayer and then some. Have faith that He'll give you whatever you ask for so long as it's within His will 

[Transition]
Now that you're done creating your first piece of art, I encourage to take as long as you need to gather yourself and your emotions before you move on. Take slow, deep breaths to settle your breathing and mind. Stretch your body out to relieve any tension that may have built. Take a few moments to meditate on the scripture and the lessons learned from your trials. Pray to our Heavenly Father, get a drink of water, use the bathroom, grab a bite to eat, etc. When you're ready you may begin the next part of this assignment or take a break for today." 

I pray that this helps you and can help someone that you know. I'll be releasing more of my book over time so stay tuned so you don't miss any healing activities! 

May our Father continue to bless you✝️, 
KasSandra Owens 

#GloryBeToGod #GodsMinistry #ExpressiveArts #ExpressiveArt #Painting #HealingArts #Christian #Christianity #CopingSkills #Adulting2022 #JesusLovesYouSoMuch #Trials #Perseverance

TURN TO GOD, NOT TO THE WORLD

If you need a positive emotional outlet for those pent up feelings, good or bad, don't turn to the world for your release turn to God. Creatively express your feelings with His insight and instruction 😇 Pray a good, soul-searing prayer to cleanse and rejuvenate yourself, to praise and worship Him for all that He's doing in your life 🙏🏾 

#GloryBeToGod #GodsMinistry #Christian #ChristianLiving #ExpressiveArts #GodsWisdom #ExpressYourself #PrayerWarrior #PrayerLife #GodsChildren #KingsKid #ShopSmall #BlackOwnedBusiness