Using Creativity

Using Creativity:  Self-promotion, or Dying to Self?

(soap box mode on)


So many internet users scramble to collect a lot of  “friends” or chase after self-branding.  The images they post, and the tone of all the writings, is supposed to fit an ongoing theme.  And their presence on the web is calculated to get them more friends or more sales or more success.

A lot of bloggers now are publishing books or selling artwares or gifts.  After while, one wonders if some of them blog for the pleasure of writing, or only to drum up more public notice.  “If you are only able to read one book this year, THIS is it---- “ proclaim countless sites. 

A popular subject at this time is “you ought to use your creativity”. 

I’m not against making money online.  I’m not against books, or artwares, or products.  I’m certainly not against using one’s creativity.  I mean, being creative is “who I am.”  I’m made in the image of God – the Great Creator – therefore I’m reflecting Him when I unleash my creative gifts.  But I have to be careful not to let any show of activity define who I am. 

Unfortunately, for personal reasons, other people’s suggestions on how to “unleash creativity” often make me feel lost, deprived, or wounded.  I’m not a strong person.  Actually, I need a way to stay challenged and creative in my mind while giving myself permission not to create more actual projects than I can handle.

Others’ advice on how to find time to be creative often makes me feel I can’t measure up.  Say “no” to other activities.  Manage family life more efficiently.  Give up an hour or two of sleep every day.  Whoa!  For many, there’s no energy left for doing activities, to say no to.  And family needs are absolutely important.  Besides this, some of us need every hour of sleep we can get – and a lot of down time, alone time, rest time between.

 For me, the hardest to bear is the branding (a new fancy word for self-promotion; advertising) which will supposedly focuses our spiritual energies.  Especially when one must start today or the train will leave without you.

“a God-sized dream” (post the story of how you’re working on that, on my blog today).
“God gave you a unique dream that will go unfulfilled unless you do it”  (let me show you how).
“the chance a lifetime” (a book that will absolutely change your life; on sale this week only).
“become exactly who God created you to be” (pay me $500 to be your coach). 
“Bible study helps” (buy a Kindle).
“take a sabbatical from technology” (complete line of online Christian resources).  [No, I’m not kidding; I saw a site advocating this.]

I would dearly love to have a prayer partner.  I wish I had friends I could be myself with.  I’d like the reassurance that my life isn’t in vain just because I haven’t the energy to turn the world upside down.  But when I find someone online who seems compatible with me, they are usually too busy “friending” a lot of impersonal friends, or branding themselves by constant online efforts.  There’s no time for me to interact with them.  Wow, do I always have to BUY Jesus, or my godly friends?

I understand that books and products cost money to produce.  And that people need to earn a living.  I’m happy that some have found a new outlet for their talents.  (I’d like to do that myself, if I were able.)  But thank you very much, I honestly don’t have the money to pay people to help me find more of Jesus, or the strength to produce great works for him if only I’m prodded a little harder, and force myself to get up earlier each day.  And I thought that rather than promote self, we were called by the Lord to die to self and let him live in us!

I tend to root for the underdog.  So what about those who don’t have the money, or maybe the health, or maybe the technical savvy, or maybe the privacy, or they have kids to feed, or, or---  ?

Does the self-promotion, the branding, the frantic activity, intimidate or break the hearts of the poor, the homeless, the uneducated, the mentally or physically challenged, those who work two or three jobs just to survive?  What about people who are persecuted for their faith, or who become victims of violence, or who live in oppressive circumstances?  Are we to say that their God-sized dreams didn’t matter as much as those who got to fulfill their dreams in actuality?  `(Maybe our wonderfully creative and imaginative God, seeing their earthly un-entitlements, will in heaven give them special creative assignments.)
 
Undoubtedly there are people who have the capacity to accomplish many activities well.  I don’t belittle them at all.  But I’m not one of them, alas.  So each day I have to ask myself -- does Jesus want me to wear a brand other than “seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness”?  Which is best?  To create tangible things for his glory?  Or to receive him more fully because I give him my creative thoughts but don’t rush about to “do more” than I’m strong enough to enjoy carrying out?


Said the robin to the sparrow,
“I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush around and worry so?”

Said the sparrow to the robin
“Friend, I think that it must be
They have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me!”


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(soap box mode off, now)

This post is shared with
"The Wellspring," Playdates with God

My Sculpted Wire Word

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Blogger Brianne Phillips has found a unique way to worship God with words. However, the kind of words I’m talking about, are not written on paper, or posted on a blog – though she’s talented at those pursuits, as well.  Rather, they are handmade wire “sculptures”, each one spelling out a special word.

A number of bloggers have chosen a “word for the year” to help guide them in their life and spiritual walk.  Brianne’s word is “freedom”.  She craves the freedom to be “her own self,” not trying to pattern herself the way someone else thinks she should be.  She wants the freedom to pursue God enthusiastically without buying in, any longer, to the lies that she might not be “good enough”, “capable enough.”  To remind herself that she’s trying to learn how to be free, she sculpted in script lettering, her word, freedom.  She can see her wire word every day.  She’s also made wire sculptures of the various words chosen by several other bloggers.

Brianne asked me about my “word for the year”.  I said I didn’t think I’d really chosen a word for the year, but that if I had one at all, it would be “resting.”

My body isn’t at all strong.  I require more “alone” time than the average person.  Oh, how I need my physical rest.
I don’t want to be tempted to linger overlong on the internet, because I need my mind-rest.
There’s sometimes the “learned” guilt of thinking I should do more, think more deeply, have achievements to show for my having lived, in order to “be a good workman approved of the Lord” – but this sort of push can sap my intellectual rest.
The daily chores and “interruptions”, the attempts to meet self-imposed schedules, build up pressure until I need to give my emotions a rest.
The demands of other Christians that I “measure up” to their expectations of who God would want me to be, can only be outlived and outloved within His rest.
And I want, crave, and delight in lots of quiet spaces with God – times when I’m not DOING, but simply being.  He alone is my spiritual rest.
After ingesting glaring news headlines and realizing much of the world is sinking or in flames…  REST in the God who is in final control.
From the fears and doubts and lies that try to wash away  my value as His “beloved”…  REST in my
Saviour, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
From the unexpected events that demand more strength than I can muster, and thus am left breathless and  
reeling … REST in the Lord who alone sustains me.
From the yen to fulfill the desires of my heart, which I believe God has placed in me, but which drive me to produce more art, or writings, or some expression of creativity than I’m really well enough to practice  … REST, simply seeing beautiful things in my imagination but not actually doing the “work”, allows me to simply bask in the Holy Spirit’s own vastly more beautiful, powerful creativity.

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Brianne’s wire word sculpture arrived in my mailbox.  I hung it where I can see it while I’m preparing a meal, or sitting to eat at my table.  I appreciated her caring enough about me to make me my special word.  But I didn’t realize, at first, just how powerful a reminder a simple word could be. 

Now, when the pressure builds inside me, and I find myself frowning (or maybe even ready to grumble), my eye falls on that word on my wall.  RESTING.  And I sort of do a double take.  (Even though I’ve already done the same thing a number of times before.)  I take a deep breath.  An almost involuntary, restorative smile breaks forth. 

“Oh, that’s right.  I’m resting!”

Trusting in God to provide for me.  Agreeing that “he is able to keep me from falling and present me faultless before the presence of his glory.” I’ve already given everything I am, to Him.  And he’s already accepted my sacrifice of praise.” 

And some of the tension in my muscles laughingly drains away.  He’s already taken care of my rest.  I don’t need to keep on the go.  I’m not a machine that must produce!  I can just relax and enjoy that he’s promised he’ll always hold my hand, and never leave or forsake me.

RESTING: What a beautiful, endearing, restful, releasing word!  
RESTING: What a wonderful, enduring, full of zest, all-increasing God is our Lord!

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Thanks, Brianne, for my sculpted wire word. 
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GIVEAWAY!

Leave a comment on Brianne’s blog – This Is My Offering – any time this week, and tell her your own word.  If you are chosen the winner of her giveaway, she will sculpt and mail you YOUR OWN wire word.

You can reach Brianne Phillips’ blog at thisismyoffering.blogspot.com

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This post is shared with Laura Boggess, "The Wellspring,"  Playdates with God

Dreamy Sketches

Dreamy Sketches

With the aid of an ancient but wonderful photo-manipulation graphics program, I can transform non-descript photos into dreamy sketches.  I get to play “artist”, without overtaxing my actual drawing skills.  The software does the work.  But there’s creative effort on my part, as well – for I’m the one who decides which buttons to click to pull out the most amazing patterns.

I’m filled with gratitude to think that God takes what seem to us mundane and often non-descript parts of our lives, and transforms them into godly patterns.  He not only knows “which buttons to click”, but best of all, he doesn’t need a “program” to help him re-create us.  He does the work because of his own majesty and greatness.  Dreamy sketches emerge in us, thanks to his amazing grace and unfailing Love.


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This post is shared with "The Wellspring", Playdates with God

and "Seedlings in Stone"

Hunger and Thirst for His Righteousness

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Hunger and Thirst for His Righteousness

 People go on doing the things they've always done,
As if they had a bright future
And all the time in the world left
In which to do their "thing."
And yet, who will speak for the voiceless?
Fight justice against oppression?
Who will remember the hungry bellies
And equally hungry hearts?

Will a "bucket list" for this year's earthly pleasures,
Seeing how many exotic activities a person can reach,
Take the place of seeing souls
That bring to the Lord each other's needs?
Will having that temporary fling –
Buying more new shoes or something other pinteresting –
Pave the way for "godliness with
Contentment is great gain"?

Ah, Lord God, may I truly hear your voice --
And see the tears of the crying and broken.
May I rejoice with those experiencing God's joy.
May I heed the voice of your Shepherd,
Your Holy Christ and His Spirit.
Then may you satisfy my earthly needs (not wants),
And flood my heart to bursting,
Fill me up inside, with You:
For I hunger and thirst after righteousness.
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(c) 2012 by Marilee Miller


This Post is Shared with   "Seedlings in Stone"  and
"The Wellspring"





http://kingfishercrossing.blogspot.com/2012/07/hunger-and-thirst-for-his-righteousness.html


 

Behold the Beauty

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Sunset Bay State Park, Southern Oregon Coast

BEHOLD THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; 

that I may dwell 

in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,

to behold the beauty of the LORD, 

and to enquire in his temple."

(Ps. 27:4)

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Were I never to make any other achievement in my life, oh, may I ever 

"behold the beauty of the Lord" 

and be glad for seeking His kingdom!

  ~

This post is shared with "Seedlings in Stone" and "Playdates with God"

 

Gospel for the Middle

Frank Viola, author of a number of Christian books, including "Epic Jesus: The Jesus You Never Knew", recently issued a "synchroblog" request for a blog post to answer a scenario he posed.  You can read his question, and my comment, below.

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The following exercise is from the synchroblog at http://frankviola.org/2012/07/09/gospelforthemiddle

Fielding Melish and his wife Felicia have two children, ages 10 and 6. They live in a very remote part of Maine, USA. They are surrounded by extended family, none of whom are Christians. The nearest churches are one hour away, and by all evangelical standards, none of them are good. These churches are either highly legalistic, highly libertine, or just flat-out flaky.

One of Fielding’s cousins is a practicing Christian. They see each other once a year. Fielding’s cousin has shared Christ with Fielding many times over the years. Whenever they’ve talked about spiritual things, Fielding shows interest.

Felicia grew up in a Christian home. She’s received Christ, but she isn’t evangelistic and is overwhelmed with working long hours and raising two small children. She would love to find a church nearby for the spiritual support and instruction, but none exist.

Fielding has no college education. While he is capable of reading, he is not a reader. He doesn’t use the Web either. He’s a man who works with his hands, both for his career and for recreation. He’s an “outdoorsman.” He hunts, he builds, he does manual labor, etc. In his spare time, he helps his elderly parents with various building projects.

Fielding is not an atheist. Neither is he an agnostic. He believes in God. He believes Jesus is the Savior of the world who died for our sins and rose again from the dead. He hasn’t fully surrendered his life to Christ, but he is not sure what that looks like exactly. His children know a little about the Lord, mostly because of what their mother has taught them.

Recently Fielding asked this question:

When I’m with my cousin once a year, I want to learn more about God. But when I come back home, and I’m around everyone else, my mind is off of God, and I am back to working, raising my kids, and helping my parents. Someone needs to come up with a solution for people like me . . . people who are in the middle. (By “in the middle,” Fielding means someone who believes in Jesus, but who isn’t fully absorbed in the faith yet either. They simply don’t know enough nor do they have any spiritual support system around them.)

Relocating is not an option for Fielding and his wife. Even if they wanted to relocate, they don’t see a way they could do it financially.

Remember: Fielding and his wife don’t personally know any Christians. None of their extended family or coworkers are believers either. And the nearest churches (which are an hour away) aren’t recommended.

Question: If you were Fielding’s cousin, how would you instruct him and his wife the next time you saw them?

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My comment:

Is the cousin praying fervently for the Holy Spirit to woo Fielding?  Praying for the Lord to “send laborers to the harvest”?  Has he perhaps enlisted prayer groups to pray for the family regularly?  Has he asked God to show him the right time to urge Fielding to surrender to Christ?

What’s stopping the cousin from being creative about ways to interact?  Has he just not thought of telephone calls or brief letters?  Or are there personal reasons for not getting in touch often?  It’s certainly difficult to try to be a godly influence on a once-a-year basis.  The cousin may be too timid, he may feel walls will go up if he “tries too hard”, or he may not know how to share more deeply, or to motivate Fielding into wanting “something more”.  He may feel Fielding isn’t ready for a deeper commitment.  (Has he even talked about the need to embrace a new way of life?)  Would the family welcome more contact, or are they too occupied with just getting through life?

It would be quite a challenge for people with no Christian background, no favorite Bible verses or great hymns of the church, no ongoing compassionate godly friendships, to see the point of making Christ King and Lord of their lives.  A witness might not be able to see quick progress.

I like the little spiral-bound table-tent calendars with a Scripture text on each page.   One sits on my dining room table.  I turn the pages daily, but if I find one that particularly speaks to me, I may leave it up for a month.  I may even half-forget to keep reading and re-reading the verse, but just looking over and seeing it’s there jogs my mind to remember God’s promise or to re-read the verse, or even memorize it.
If there is e-mail contact, there are free greeting e-cards, and if snail-mail, Bible verse stickers.

There is the Jesus Storybook Bible for kids.  Although some Christian tracts might be too much “in your face,” there are some catchy and logical ones.  What if the cousin gave a gift subscription to a devotional magazine such as the Upper Room, with a humble suggestion that it might be helpful to for Felicia or the 10 year old to read it aloud when the family gathers at mealtime?  Would Fielding agree to listen to audios or brief videos – gospel music, abbreviated teachings, simple statements?   If Fielding is uncomfortable with saying a “table grace”, would he accept Felicia initiating the habit?

Unfortunately, who will bring any of these into the Menich household if the cousin doesn’t take the initiative to either SEND them, or suggest strongly to the family that it’s worth their investigating these resources?

Has the cousin taught Fielding and Felicity how to pray simply, so the Menich family doesn’t feel intimidated by the idea that they ought to pray?  Perhaps (and perhaps not) it’s time for the cousin to remind Fielding that there are many times in life when we must take responsibility for our actions -- and the same is true of a decision for spiritual commitment.  If Fielding can hear this, then the next question would be – “Are you ready to make that choice?”  Then if the cousin knows how (and we don’t know whether he does), he could point out ways a busy, not-much-of-a-reader man might start building a relationship with Christ, or a role in the spiritual direction of the household.  If Fielding isn’t ready for this, perhaps the cousin can help Felicia think of non-threatening ways to share her faith with her family.  If the cousin isn’t capable of making this step, he can at least let them know how much he cares for this family, and that he always prays for them.  He might be able to suggest ways each one of the Menich family can make a choice to encourage one another while they’re waiting to find other believers.  One would hope the cousin could be inventive enough to tie his suggestions for the family, to their interests (nature, hunting, building, for Fielding; need for socialization and supportiveness for Felicia).

Ephesians 3:16

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A nondescript photo of a gray sky evolves into a series of colorful backgrounds when tweaked in a graphics program.  And, oh, this Scripture verse is a sumptuous feast!
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“May He grant out of the rich treasury of his glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Ghost [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality."
                                                     (Eph 3:16  the Amplified Bible)

--oooo--

This verse – it takes my breath away.  I can say I accept it as true.  But my mind staggers to grasp the depths of the idea.  What does it mean,  that God himself indwells my inner being, my personality! 

Ah, how do I surrender to Him in such a way that my heart KNOWS unwaveringly that His mighty, Holy Spirit power is strengthening and reinforcing me?  Reinforcing me -- even amidst my struggles and hard days?  Oh, my.  That’s exactly what I need.  My heart doesn’t know how to “FEEL” that!  I can only cry out to him for mercy.  How I plead for more, more of Jesus Christ.

And while I’m waiting for the knowledge of his infusion to mold sweet patterns within me, I can make artworks as a fitting worship unto him.  Just as I can use a graphics program to express my imagination by bringing out bright colors, he’s going to turn the gray skies of my inner life into bright banners testifying of his unfailing love and provision.

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This post is shared with "Seedlings in Stone" and
"Playdates with God"







Do you plead for more, more of Jesus Christ?  What expressions or activities do you employ to worship him, and keep yourself reminded of his glory?  "[Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality.]"  Does this add to your understanding of God in your life?