Creative? Manipulation.

Create: 1. to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes.

The first definition of "create" at dictionary.com causes me to consider that the term “creative” only accurately describes God bc only God can make something/anything/everything(!) - out of nothing.

which ... causes me to consider … there must be a better word (hmmm.....) to describe man in this regard - since man is limited in “creative” ability - to combining materials that God already made, in various ways, to make something different – or to changing the form of something that already exists (gas, solid, liquid).

Hmm... I think I've found it. - what I was looking for. - just the right word. - to describe man in this "creative" regard: .... manipulative(!)

seems fitting.
in almost every regard.
doesn't it?

P.S. (sarcastic) Question: from my husband: Man...why are you picking on the men...what about the women

My (sarcastic) Answer: The word is "man"ipulative .... not "wo-man"ipulative! :) Kidding! - Bad joke?!

Considering K.I.S.S.ing rules goodbye

"We don't need many rules....but some." I underlined these words in one of my favorite books. In the "but some" lies personal conflict as I try to figure out which rules are essential. I tend to challenge rules by trying to find exceptions to &/or ways around them (ie. loopholes!). Seems each time I'm subject to a new rule/law I lose more of the freedom I enjoy so much!

Understanding that two rules encompass all the good rules (even the Ten Commandments!) I'm considering "KISSing" (Keep It Simple Stupid!) most rules goodbye by attempting to follow just the two (commandments) that Jesus said were the greatest. When I'm conflicted I know enough to check my motive (the why behind what I'm doing or not doing) & attempt do what Jesus would do. If I'm successful, then no one will be able to fault me - unless the rules I break in that process are bad rules to begin with.

Matthew 22: 34 - 40 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'^[b] This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'^[c] All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Think about it. If everyone followed these two rules there would be no need for any others (freedom!).

Given that Adam & Eve had only one rule to follow - & the rest is History (His Story!) causes me to consider that "KISS"ing most rules good-bye might not be as easy at it seems it should be - given my tendency to "push the envelope" I'd like to "seal w/ a 'KISS' ".

All Together in One Place

It.....- is the way I like things! - is one of my all time favorite books - kinda defines my heart for womens' ministry. - was inspired by Psalm 16:5-6 - is about a group of women who travel across the Oregon Trail & whose faith seems to grow in proportion to the adversity they experience. What they originally tho't "essential" for the journey is slowly discarded, displaced & dwindled. Each woman eventually needs or has what the other women need & therein lies the glue (relationship) that eventually bonds them tightly together & motivates them to persevere - & is where what they think is "essential" ...changes .

One would know me much better if they only read what I underlined b/c I could relate to it to some degree. There was SO much! Here's some (some paraphrased) :

Afterwards, that's when you worry. Folks get thru' their pickles & then die of surviving.

Just bc you can't make a decision until it's been wrestled to death, doesn't mean others can't & shouldn't.

She wrote in the mornings, organized the feelings that didn't make sense in any other way. Sometimes she wrote about what she'd seen or heard, a phrase or two; sometimes of her feelings, the emptiness & longing; she wrote of how Scripture nurtured in a distinctive way. Whatever it was, the very writing of a thing calmed her, gave her direction.

Why did she always doubt herself halfway through a thing? It was her curse - one among many.

Being needed is a good thing, he'll come to find.

Doubt's a poison taken from a snake.

To be without a place of belonging is to starve the soul.

God is seen in the everyday, by those who seek him, child.

Needing is a part of being, just like loving is.

Some folks get mad, or go mad; others go so deep inside we never see 'em again. Don't go to those places....

We don't need many rules either...but some.

She'd been given a lovely moment in life, and she had robbed herself of it by doing something stupid. It was the story of her life.

She wished she knew for certain, when bad things happened, whether it was part of God's guidance or just a consequence of one's own will.

Bryce used to say that was what all humans long for, to be known, truly known & just accepted by another.

We needed this time of rest... This pushing, pushing, pushing doesn't make the gains that stillness does.

This journey ... had given her a gift that staying in one place, at home, would have deprived her of.

Will I ever be sure of anything?

The ART is ..... not to compromise

"We're challenged to either confront culture,
to abandon it - or to transform it."
Gordon Pennington, The Truth Project

Got to thinking re: my last post ... I realize as time goes on, opportunity for ministry (worship?) to be what I believe it was intended to be (enjoyable!) will become less & less & less.

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

In much of the world people have already long suffered & are forced to sacrifice even their lives to fulfill Romans 12:1. But - that's not the case here...yet! What others are forced to do at great risk, we still have the freedom to do - & I can't help but wonder how different things would be if we/I/the church in general had seized more opportunities for ministry in much the same creative way & with the same pleasure I sense God enjoyed when He revealed Himself to us in His Creation & His Word. Something tells me ministry would be much more enjoyable and the church would be much more attractive! Unfortunately I believe we are where we are, in large part because the church has abandoned the culture. I'm not sure why that is, except perhaps because of the selfish (twisted!) emphasis on the arts to creatively express who we are - rather than who God is- & who we are/others can be because of Christ. But - I think we should exercise the freedom (of expression!) we have in Christ & still have in our country - creatively & with great pleasure (as I get the impression God originally did) when opportunities present themselves.

The art is....not to compromise.

Art

All this talk about creativity has me thinking a lot about art.

As a child I enjoyed art class. Never gave much tho't to art being anything more than fun. Now - my practical side views much of what we refer to as art as a waste -- of time, supplies, money, etc. But - understanding that art is a form of communication/creative expression -- & my firm belief that God revealed Himself to us in both His Word & in creation - beautiful/interesting (!) illustrations (artwork) of His Word - & that man was created in the image of God - has me considering that perhaps God gave us limited (we certainly can't make something/anything out of nothing as He can) creative abilities - so that we could enjoy creatively expressing Him (ministry!) too.

I gather that the purpose God created us for (to give Him glory/reflect Him/ministry), He intended to give us great joy(!) - as I sense He took great pleasure in revealing Himself to us.

1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

So - I wonder... if it saddens God that SO many think ministry is a heavy burden & church is boring. Is this a result of the selfish emphasis placed on "the arts" to creatively express who we are - rather than who HE is (or at the very least who we are in (because of) Him?!

Don't get me wrong - I don't think ministry always has to/should be fun/enjoyable ... but I do think that's how it was originally intended to be (before sin) & so I don't think there's anything wrong w/ it being fun either. In fact, when there's an opportunity to make ministry fun/enjoyable, I think we should view it more as a privilege/less as a burden....& seize it!

How does this apply to me...as a wife, mother, homeschooler, sister, friend, etc.? - Let's just say there's MUCH room for improvement. If creatively expressing who God is - & who I am & who others can be b/c of Him (ministry) was really my continual focus, I'd be having a lot more fun & I'd be a much more enjoyable person to be around.

Talk about creative expression!

A friend & I enjoyed coffee & conversation yesterday @ B&N. We rarely see each other but it seems each time we make time - we talk about stuff that leaves me thinking about stuff we talked about ...long after we talked :)

At one point our conversation turned to art. We agree that art reflects/communicates so much about the artist - which causes me to consider God - as the Artist of creation.

Creation seems to illustrate God's Word much like pictures illustrate text in a book - & help us understand so much more than we would w/o them - & so I find myself looking at things God created & asking myself what it was He wanted us to better understand when He made certain things. Thru'out God's Word aspects of His creation are used to help us better understand certain concepts - (ie. trees, water - Ps. 1) - so I see creation as God's magnificent work of art - compiled of countless individual works of art - that each in & of themselves help us better understand (communicate!) "the big picture" (who God is & His will for us).

From beginning to end God's word communicates relationship - & all of creation - from microscopic to telescopic - whispers & shouts relationship too. Think about it... every living thing inherently has both needs & something others need ... & in the case of people....we all have a strong desire (need?) to be needed (loved?!)

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

I'll likely be trying to wrap words around my thoughts on more of this for quite some time - but - given that it took just six days for God to complete creation (& then He rested) -- yet after 40 years he's STILL working on me -- makes me wonder if I'm one of His "more challenging projects" :) .... & why He's SO patient... (& if/how much He'll want to rest when He's finally done! :)

The WOW(!) Factor

Reading the Genesis account of all God created at the beginning of time - & exploring creation for myself, given the WOW! factor I experience as I try to take it all in, I sense God took great pleasure & found much joy in being creative. I wonder if when it was all said & done in just six days(!) - & tho' it was very good - if God missed doing what He'd done so well - to the point of perfection/no room for improvement. And I wonder if that's in part why He made people - if by placing a free will within man, God knew the risk He was taking yet thought it was worth the risk b/c it left Him with an ongoing creative challenge -- perhaps His biggest "challenge" (for lack of a better word!) in the creative regard (personal relationship).

I wonder if making something/everything(!) out of nothing was actually easier for God to do than for Him to work all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (see Romans 8:28)

Along that line... one of my favorite things to ask God is to make Himself real to me... & then to look for how He's going to do just that becomes a treasure hunt of sorts. Proverbs 2:3-5 ...and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. His answers are often so personal & creative. I gather God delights in answering this request - when it's prayed in such a way that the one asking is expecting an answer tho' they're not quite sure what to expect - b/c it leaves Him plenty of room to be creative. And I wonder... when we pray it differently by asking God to do something specific - if our selfishness robs God of some of the joy He takes in answering, by limiting/eliminating the part that perhaps He delights in most - where He gets to be creative/display His splendor- by answering in ways we'd least expect ... ie. the WOW! factor :)

See Isaiah 61