Book Excerpts ~ Created to be Creative

Section One ~ Conquer Insecurities, Discover Talents ~ Chapter One   Born with a Creative Nature   Pg 23     

       God’s objectives involve more than imparting freedom to observe, think, and take creative action.  It’s about accepting who we are and using our talents as only we can.  To help us understand His divine plan, let’s look at the first day of Creation.

       The destiny of an entire universe hung upon the thought process of Almighty God.  First, He saw “the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10).  With the end determined, the plot began to take shape—God, in His timeless existence, with no beginning and no end, devised the creation of time and seasons, days and nights.  The plan expanded and grew; humanity would be lost, kingdoms would rise and fall and a Savior would of necessity come.  “Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Timothy 1:9). 

      He then turned His focus on the beginning. Soon He would speak and day one would come into existence; but what would He create first? Why would His story require such a brilliant opening? A good author knows how to set the stage immediately, sparking the readers’ interest and drawing them into the plot; not revealing too much, yet telling enough to captivate their thoughts, compelling them to find out what happens next. God, the author of creation and all living things had the beginning of His story now ready. The angels looked over the balcony of heaven to behold with wonder as God spoke, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). LIGHT. The very first thing God created was light. Let’s think about this for a moment—this light was not the sun, moon, nor stars; no, they were not created until the fourth day. So what was this light? What did it look like? It looked like GOD! The very first thing we know about the history of our world is that God created an expression of Himself. “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). His creation was to be filled with His glory. The same glory spoken about in Isaiah 60:19, “The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; but the LORD will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory.” By the sixth day when man was created, he was not only able to see his surroundings because of light, but he could see light. Psalm 36:9 tells us, “For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.” God made light so we could see Him everywhere we look and in everything we do.

        Since God always leads by example, the creation of light set forth a divine principle: we have permission to create an expression of ourselves. God has empowered us to bring forth from within an outward display of the unique characteristics He has given us. One of the clearest ways to exhibit our individuality is through the arts. The medium, style, or kind of art we choose matters not—the size, shape, color, sound, or substance of what we produce is only a means to an end—as long as it illustrates who we are within the margins of God’s word.

Section Two ~ Be a Doer and Not a Hearer Only ~ Chapter 5   A Matter of Priority    Pg 73     

        The more we incorporate creativity into our lives, the more we’ll find ways to turn everyday activities into innovative ones. However, I want to focus for a moment on setting aside time specifically for the arts. Stop and consider; should finding or even making time for a creative outlet be a priority? I’m not asking if it should be the top priority, as if this were the only thing in life that can satisfy. Creativity should never take precedence over our relationship with Jesus Christ; nor should it come before legitimate responsibilities. Nevertheless, it can, and should be of consequence to us, seeing there are so many benefits, both to us personally and for those who will in time gain from our form of expression. Creativity on any level, be it observation, thinking, or action can positively affect our lives. If some of you have never had a creative outlet or let one slip away without regret, you may not understand the importance of finding the time to think and act creatively.

        Distractions come in many forms, often occupying so much of the day that our creative nature does not have room to spread its wings and fly. Though desire naturally exists in each one of us, often other things simply crowd it out. When this happens, we could feel justified by what we’ve accomplished and have no regrets—not yet, anyway. In the future, we may look back on our lives and wish we had spent at least some of our time differently . . . creatively.

Section Three ~ Principles in Action ~ Chapter 10    Godly Boundaries     Pg 134

        Our goal should be to increase in creative skills and the means whereby we impart life and wholeness through the arts. “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13). We won’t consistently create that which is good unless our foundation is built upon God’s word and His Spirit is permitted to reign within us. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things” (Matthew 12:35). What occupies our hearts ultimately governs our actions.

        The same is true with our words, “. . . For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). Cheerful words and joyful deeds expose a happy heart. On the contrary, sarcasm and defensiveness reveal a bitter heart. 1 Samuel 2:3 admonishes, “Talk no more so very proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed.” Good or evil, right or wrong, our actions speak and so do our creative endeavors. They not only take on our personalities in style, but also in substance, representing our nature as well as our purpose. When people look at our lives or consider the contents of our artistic expression they should see that which is good, because God is good.  

        I’m not talking about removing conflict, contrast, or competition; but rather demonstrating good and promoting hope through the things we produce. For example, I could paint a dark and dreary scene of the ravages of war, leaving the viewer bewildered. However, if I add a lamppost or a light in a window, no matter how dim or insignificant it may seem, hope emanates. It’s not about avoiding reality, but how we portray reality that matters.

Section Four ~ Hindrances to Creativity ~ Chapter 13    An Analogy     Pg 181

Most of us behave favorably when things are going well, so with that thought in mind, let’s consider the weather for a moment.  If we could always have it our way, we would wake to a glorious sunrise, followed by a day filled with beautiful blue skies and end with breathtaking sunsets.  No storms, no rain, life would be great, creativity would flourish and all would be well with the world—right?  Not exactly.  It wouldn’t take long before we stopped appreciating perfect days and, even worse, we would die for the lack of rain.

Thankfully, God knows best and is faithful to give us what we need, not just what we want.  If this is true in the natural realm, why do we automatically think God’s upset with us when the “weather” of our lives becomes stormy?  Even the most upright person goes through tough times.  “Have you considered My servant Job…” (Job 1:8)—and every other person mentioned in the Bible…  They all weathered difficulties and endured temptations.  Trials are a part of life. 

Art of distinction requires mood and contrast, something to cause the eye to linger.  The same is true with a novel.  While it must have purpose and direction, it also requires conflict to make it a success.  What brings us to creative greatness is no different from the ingredients needed for the art itself.  Personal conflict often becomes the reason we produce art.  If everything is always roses and sunshine, creative drought is inevitable, ideas become ordinary or weak and nothing produces the vibrant results we desire.  Refreshing rains, and even occasional storms, can rejuvenate creative flow, bringing with them new life and often a new course of action.  

The fact of the matter is, trials bring about feelings and responses we don’t have when things are running smoothly.  Therefore, we must learn to take those feelings and work toward a positive outcome to our problems.  Through prayer, Jesus can show us what He wants to accomplish.  It may be as simple as a heart of worship, or He could be calling us to a creative expression that will help others find their way to Him.  There is always a purpose, even in times of pruning, which ultimately brings forth a greater harvest.

Introduction                                                                                                                       

Here is the introduction to Created to be Creative.  This gives you an overview of what is covered in the book.

It is important for you to understand that you’re not alone in your quest to unleash and use the creative side of you.  Therefore, I have written this book in the “we” and “us” format as much as possible.  The examples given show why many people feel isolated and afraid to try creative ventures.  This book addresses many internal, as well as external, issues that hinder us and is as much about life as it is about finding and using our talents.  It also shows us how and where to begin the journey so that we can find greater purpose in and through the things we do.

When I use the word art, I’m including all creative activity.  Though this book uses several traditional arts for examples, it is not meant to be exclusive; simply insert your form of creative outlet (a term used often) into the examples given.  Then apply these principles to your individual situation.  No matter what your outlets are—cooking, scrapbooking, interior decorating, landscaping, gardening, woodworking, photography, and even athletic endeavors, the concepts set forth in this book will apply to you.   

•  If you already have a creative outlet, this book will encourage you to look deeper than the surface,
   think past the obvious, and learn how to make your form of art speak. 

•  If you know you have talent, but aren’t sure what to do with it or how to find a creative outlet,
   and you want direction toward increasing your ability, keep reading. 

•  If you feel you don’t have any natural ability, put that thought aside as you flip through these pages.
   Then open your eyes, your ears, and most importantly your heart, so you can learn to recognize your
   talents and experience creative fulfillment.  By the way, don’t get discouraged if it takes some time to
   discover what’s right for you; this is simply part of the process.   

I divided this book into four sections.  The first section focuses on who we are in Christ and accepting the fact that we were born with a creative nature.  It also gives constructive ideas of how to successfully find and faithfully use creative outlets.  If you are already an experienced artist, you may be tempted to dismiss the first section, but please read it anyway.  I am confident there are concepts that will help you.  It will also make you aware of some of the insecurities that people face and why they’re afraid to try creative things.  As you read, think of ways that you can encourage others to take up a creative outlet.  You will be doing them a favor.

Section two speaks about our need for effort and making art a priority.  Additional elements are also crucial in reaching our full potential: the need to slow down and improve our observation skills, learn how to think more creatively about everything, and the importance of taking creative action. 

The third section gets into the meat of this book.  It is of utmost importance that we realize there are godly boundaries when it comes to our creative outlets.  It is time for Christians to become more involved in the arts so we can have a greater influence on society. 

The fourth and last section deals with the hindrances that try to keep us from creative living.  We will learn why these distractions are detrimental to our health and our purpose.  Creative outlets are good for us and can help us through tough times; these chapters will show us how. 

Above all, this book will help us discover how we can employ our talents in God’s service and increase our opportunities to witness.  If this concept is new to you, don’t feel pressured into thinking you have to take your creative outlet into the public arena right away, there is usually a grace period for personal growth.  Some of you may never have a public stage, but don’t be surprised when you find creative expression brings encouragement and refreshing on a personal level.  This will in turn strengthen you to labor for God in other ways by using your individual personality to minister to those He brings across your path.  And who knows, once you’re comfortable with the development of your abilities, you may find God wants you to share your talents with others.  As you begin to understand the full scope of the creative experience and its benefits, I pray Jesus will show you the direction He would have you take.   
Thank You for your time.

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