SOAR…

Trip Lee recently gave a four hour teaching on the topic of “Christlikeness,” at the Legacy Institute in Houston, a leadership institute launched by the Legacy Conference.

The Legacy 2010 Conference, “for those that are serious about being a disciple of Christ and making disciples for Christ,” will be held July 29 – 31 in Chicago at the Moody Bible Institute. Visit www.legacy-conference.org for more information.

Below are two videos that highlight Trip’s teaching series during the institute, a few reflections from attendees, and a short interview about Trip’s new album “Between Two Worlds”. Videos by Sketch the Journalist

Should I change my hairstyle? Am I skinny enough? Will I look bad in this?

There are so many pressures to want to look a certain way today, and we as girls often scrutinize ourselves in the mirror and compare ourselves to others. I love this blog post by singer and speaker Paige Armstrong, on what really makes girls beautiful. Paige said on her blog:

“I am finding that it is not a style that makes people’s head turn. It’s not the amount of make up or the exquisitely crafted hair. What sets a person a part, is just being themselves.

“Whether they’re short or tall, pale or tan, wearing glasses or not, round or long… it doesn’t matter. It takes knowing yourself: Who you are and what you’re not. Where you’ve been and where you want to go. What you like and how you want to come across.

“So the bottom line? Just be yourself. That’s what’s beautiful.”

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Click here to read the full post

She’s right, everyone is unique in their own way and though society tells us what is supposedly beautiful – a certain weight, hairstyle, clothing – it is really loving the way God made us and taking care of the body He gave us that makes us truly beautiful. Express your own style and be yourself – remember that God regards the heart as most important.

Paige also has a song called “Airbrushed Magazines” on her latest album “Wake Up,” talking about this very subject. I love the edgy rock sound and especially the message; take a listen below:

“You’re beautiful the way you are, don’t let this world define you, what’s wrong, what’s right don’t give up the fight, it’s time, to feel, what it is to be real, and though, they say we should live life their way, who are they, to say who we are?” – Paige Armstrong

About Paige

Paige Armstrong is a 20 year-old music artist and speaker, and what’s most amazing is that she’s a former Make-A-Wish child and cancer survivor (click here to watch her story). She’s a regular host of the show iShine Knect on TBN, aimed at Christian tweens, and her music and speaking ministry show how passionate she is about encouraging young people to embrace their purpose. Visit her website online at www.paigehasastory.com and follow her on Twitter @PaigeHasAStory, she’s always sharing something uplifting and inspiring.

Watch this clip of Paige from an episode of iShine, about how much God loves us and how we were created with purpose:
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Group 1 Crew released their EP Spacebound at the beginning of June and one of the songs is called “Beautiful”. The song has a great message about realizing that we are wonderfully made by God and that our beauty comes from Him. We can shake off our insecurities and walk in the confidence He gives.

Some Lyrics From Beautiful:
I’ve been thinking bout the way I see, myself and I, just can’t understand why I say
All those hurtful things about myself, insecurities, they don’t seem to just go away

And it’s hard for me to understand, you loving me, through all the mistakes that I make
I’m so glad that you will never leave, keep reminding me, how you see me each day I wake…

Visit the Group 1 Crew website for the rest of the lyrics, more videos and for updates on their album and tour. Also, listen to the entire “Spacebound EP streamed online from their Facebook page. Click here to order the EP on iTunes.

Pursuing A Life Mapped By the Maker

His music and ministry spans generations. From producer, to musician, speaker and host, Kirk Franklin’s ability to be both light-hearted with humor and raw with realness and honesty draws in people of all ages and backgrounds. Adding a new level of transparency and spiritual insight, Kirk Franklin launches his first book The Blueprint: A Plan for Living Above Life’s Storms on May 18. In the book he charts a guide of personable wisdom speaking on everything from faith and marriage to race and life in the black community. “The Blueprint” aims to inspire anyone to view and plan his or her life from an unearthly perspective.

Kirk Franklin spoke to Dream in Soul about the vision of the book, his ministry expanding into the Twitterverse, his definition of success, and creating a bridge between contemporary Christian and gospel music. Tune into the conversation below:

Dream in Soul: Hi, thank you so much for talking to me today, it’s such an honor. I wanted to start out by asking you what inspired you to write this book at this point in your life and what was your vision in writing it?

KF: The book came about because I’ve been doing a lot of public speaking, and speaking at colleges, churches, and conferences, and so people thought that it would be good that I did a book. So a couple of publishers became interested in the idea, and now here we are with “The Blueprint.”

DS: What was your vision, did you have a specific age group in mind when writing the book or is it for everyone?

Britt Nicole’s video for “Lost Get Found,” from her 2009 album of the same name, is a great reminder of sharing our love and the truth of the Gospel with others, and not letting the fire of our faith dim out:

Click here to see the official video on Youtube, or listen to the song below:

Lost Get Found Lyrics

“Hello my friend
I remember when you were
So alive with your wide eyes
Then the light that you had in your heart was stolen
Now you say that it ain’t worth stayin’
You wanna run but you’re hesitatin’
I’m talkin’ to me…

Don’t let your lights go down
Don’t let your fire burn out
‘Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe
Why don’t you rise up now?
Don’t be afraid to stand out
That’s how the lost get found…”

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