CHAPTER 31: CREATIVITY 2022
James 1:17
New International Version
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
I might say that creativity has been with me all my life, especially my youth. A specter that caused me to rise in the morning, work through the night, make music, stories, ideas, like a mad scientist pushed to the limit of time, sleep — no matter what the cost, to complete an idea and offer it up to the universe. Before Jesus, I wanted movies, a hit song, a book, something to take me to the ultimate goal of fame and fortune. I touched it, but could never actually have it. Thank, God. It surely would’ve been my end, I wasn’t ready. I did enjoy a measure of success, enough to pay the bills and keep moving. Had I actually obtained what I wished for, what I touched but couldn’t grasp — fame, even a small amount would have destroyed me, my creativity and my destiny. I would have never been able to control myself without the training I most certainly did not have. I was however, on the road to Emmaus, as it was said in the gospel of Luke, “walking with Jesus and not knowing it was Him.”
Philippians 1:5-7
New King James Version
5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.
Before Christ, it was as if creativity was my director, my hope, my dream of more and better — it was certainly the danger zone, not creativity itself, rather my expectation of what I wanted from it. You see, I was doing it incorrectly. Expecting money, property and prestige from my creativity, like an outside barbecue, the scent was intoxicating. You know what? I had no idea how close I was to God. My imagination was not mine at all — it was His, and as I pursued these dreams, He was teaching me, talking to me, enjoying my company as, unbeknownst to me, we worked on my mind together, to adjust my creativity away from the false god of fame. Me and the Lord worked on Creativity.
He works with us, like a farmer in the field. Tending to us daily, a little at a time, because too much would be overwhelming. I call it two degree adjustments. A little here, a little there the Lord works on me and you, especially if you let Him.
In my life, the Lord used my creativity to prepare my mind for what was to come, my heart to sustain and continue to work when there was no promise of financial gain, only the hope and faith that something more was coming, and I could be a part of it.
I didn’t see it then, but now, looking back, the Lord gave me what I needed it when I needed it. The work I put into my creativity, it paid off, all of it, not in the way I’d imagined, God designed from my work a way I could not imagine. He fashioned me, with His hands, the potter and the potter’s clay.
Psalm 27:14
New King James Version
Wait[a] on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
Even if you’re one of those people who think you’re not creative, you are a creative. We are all creative. We must create to survive. We learn how to do things. Things we need, we learn to make food, furniture, maybe we work on our own vehicles, play music, figure out how to entertain the kids, the spouse, poetry, artistic drawing or painting, all of it is living and learning to live in the environment. Sometimes creativity borders on the edge of brilliance or genius. How to do math, book-keeping, build, rebuild, landscaping, woodworking, organizing, any number of everything! I believe Creativity comes from the very breath of God. It keeps us healthy and alive. Being creative with life and the yield given us through our efforts in owning and managing a company — is divine. I do warn you, however, use your creativity for the good of things, not the bad.
Leviticus 25:17 New International Version 14
17 Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God.
Be fair, work hard, don’t be jerk. Food for thought. Be careful what you do with your time and the resources God has provided. Stay with God, in God for God.
John 6: 63-71
63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit[a] and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.”
In verse 68 Simon Peter had the correct mind-set..
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
God made the ideas and made you to implement them, think about it, very powerful.
Exodus 35:31-33
New International Version
31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33 to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts.
Discover the original blueprint of you! What he meant you to be! Then get it done, complete the idea.., bring it to life. Invent with the express purpose of giving it to the Lord for His use.
Jeremiah 18:3-4
Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.
Keep bad ideas at bay, stay away from behavior that allows for such things. Selfish, deceitful, unfair, short-term, hurtful, and most importantly, not designed to do good.
1 Timothy 6:10 King James Version (KJV)
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Keep trying, keep working, keep imagining, pruning to remove the clutter from your life – in order to allow new vibrant goals to flourish and take shape.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6
New International Version
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Revolt against mediocre and evolve. Think about yourself as a treasure chest filled with all the things that God has given you, i.e. your challenges, talents, blessings, miracles, people, places and things. Overcoming challenges may be one of your greatest gift and most creative! In the overcoming you may achieve greatness!! Whatever the case, your character is built in the application of doing the work and conquering life’s challenges with the Word of God in His Holy Grace. Give yourself permission to enjoy Chapter 31, Creativity.
“Every child is an Artist. The problem is staying an artist when you grow up” – Pablo Picasso
“If you hear a voice within you say, ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced” – Vincent Van Gogh
2 Corinthians 9:8
New International Version
8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Everything is everything, my friends. Be creative in the gifts the Lord has given you, and what will He show you! Ah, now that is truly the adventure of a lifetime…
Amen.
