Month: March 2025

Creativity

Did you know that you were actually designed to be creative?

I hear way too many people saying things like,

“I’m not creative.”
“I can’t draw”
“I can’t dance.”
“I can’t paint.”
“I can’t write.”

Every time I hear words like that spoken out, I wince and my heart hurts because I used to say those things, too.

The saddest part was that, inside, I was desperate to express myself in creative ways. I figured that because my creativity didn’t look perfect or even really, what I deemed to be acceptable that I couldn’t consider myself creative. Not like other people were.

For my entire childhood, teen years and into adulthood, I grappled with this inner desire to express myself creatively; and this feeling that I wasn’t good enough to even try.

That feeling of inferiority kept me from living as my true, authentic self.

I WAS CREATED TO CREATE.

WE ALL ARE!

We are created in the image of God and HE IS THE CREATOR OF ALL.

His divine nature as a creative being bringing beauty into the world, creating something from nothing gives us all, the right and even the responsibility to create what we can to also bring beauty into our world.

If you feel a desire to paint, then paint.
If written or spoken word stirs you, then let the words flow.
If you desire to dance or flag, go for it.


Whatever creative outlet your heart desires, just do it.
Practise.
Don’t discount the desire.

Very few people have natural talent and ability but that doesn’t disqualify you from being creative.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 has an encouragement to move forward with all your might. It’s an encouragement to not hold back but to GO FOR IT. Psalm 33:3 has an exhortation that when you play an instrument that you would do it skilfully. Some people are blessed with an incredible natural talent but for so many of us – excellence and skill takes practise.

Don’t be discouraged if your first attempts wobble a little.

Think about a baby. When babies first start walking, they stumble, fall and wobble quite a bit but when they take those first shaky steps we excitedly say, “You’re walking.”

Can they do it well? Nope! Will they continue to stumble and fall. YUP!

But we speak into being what we know will happen with practise.

So if you want to write and you practise writing, You are a writer.
If you want to dance and you practice dancing, You are a dancer.
If you want to draw and you practise drawing, You are an artist.
If you want to take pictures and you practise photography, you are a photographer.

Speak it out.
Embrace your creative nature.
Practise creativity regularly and
Share the beauty that you are creating.

Now more than ever, we need beauty in the world and you, as a creative being, have a part to play in adding beauty to our lives and the world.

So the next time that lie comes to you telling you that you can’t create, that you’re not creative; STOP and declare the wonder of who you were created to be.

  • I am a creative being.
  • I am created in the image of my Father
  • I create beauty to share with the world.
  • I have permission to play and create in ways that are unique to who the Father made me to be.
  • I embrace creativity as part of my God given nature.
  • I am creative.

You are His Masterpiece

I love to knit.

I was thinking about that verse in Psalms where it mentions that the Father knits us together in our mothers womb.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it. Psalm 139:13-14 NLT

I know that as an imperfect person, my knitting projects are usually imperfect and I make mistakes. Even if I am extremely careful, I often have to redo sections to get it right. But, I choose my material and patterns carefully and work to get the exact look and feel that I want. My plan is to create something that I love and that works perfectly for what I want it for.

I can’t help but think about the Father. He is perfect in all of His ways. He doesn’t make mistakes. He knew exactly what He wanted to create when He made you and He loves you the way you are. There’s no mistakes in the way he made you. He put you together with love and care and so much attention to detail.

BUT….just like a sweater that’s been around for a number of years, there may be wear and tear. Maybe the sleeve gets snagged on something and ends up with a string of the wool pulled funny and hanging loose in a way it wasn’t supposed to be. Maybe a hole gets ripped in the front of it.

The sweater is still useful, even if its a little worn. Even with snags and holes, it will be able to keep us warm and provide a layer of comfort; even if it’s not perfect and in its original beauty and design.

We are sometimes like that sweater. What God knit together in the beginning may end up with a few scratches or worn bits, We may get pulled out of the original shape that we were created to be in. Often times we end up being used in ways that don’t line up with our original design.

If you take that worn out, beat up sweater and put it in the hands of a master craftsman or craftswoman, they have this incredible skill and ability to take that piece and transform it back into something beautiful. Often times, their goal is to restore it to it’s original look and feel, if possible.

Our Heavenly Father is the most amazing craftsman you could imagine. Not only that, He is the original creator of that piece. He made you. He is intimately familiar with how He created you; with how He designed you and with what you were like before time and people impacted you.

If you’re feeling worn out or stretched out of shape. If you’re feeling a little beat up or like you might have a few damaged bits, I would encourage you to come to the Master Craftsman. Come to the Father and let Him work in you. You are not worthless. You are not beyond hope. You are never beyond repair. He will restore you. Spend time with Him. Let Him restore the beauty of your life. Let Him be the ONE who defines you, who re-creates you. Let Him be the ONE who speaks of your worth and value.

You ARE wonderfully and marvellously made and if you’re not feeling that, spend time with the ONE who made you. Let Him speak over you. Let His love saturate you and fill you until every part of you is confident of it. Let Him work in your life and He will reveal to you, the beauty and wonder that He created.

You are His masterpiece.

Being Content

The Bible has a lot to say about being content.

It’s too easy to look at our lives and focus on our lack. To get stuck on everything that others have and to be hyper aware of what we don’t have. We spend too much time comparing ourselves to others. That comparison negatively affects us mentally and emotionally; it can even affect us physically.

In the Bible, Paul spoke of his ability to be content no matter what circumstance he was in.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13

He knew what it was to live in abundance and He also experienced some of the lowest lows a human can go through. He recognized that he couldn’t do it in His own strength, but that the story was so different when he put his trust and confidence in God.

God was his source for everything.

With that awareness and confidence, He could handle anything that came his way.

Contentment is something that happens inside of us and has nothing to do with our situations, our circumstances, our needs; or our lack. It’s a peace and confidence that comes when you place your trust in God’s provision and His sovereignty in your life.

Contentment is a peace and confidence that comes when you place your trust in God’s provision and His sovereignty in your life.

It comes when you lay down your ideas of self-sufficiency and live in His sufficiency; knowing that there’s nothing you can do to earn it or make it happen, but that His grace and mercy are gifts that He gives out of His Great Love for you.

If contentment is something you are struggling with here are a few practical things that you can do to shift your focus.

  1. Purposefully pursue an awareness of the Father’s goodness and provision
  2. Prioritize your relationship with the Father
  3. Reflect on the Blessings in your life
  4. Rely on the Father to lead and guide every decision you make.

He is a good Father who provides for all you need. Spend time with Him and read your Bible; and in doing so, you will learn more and more about His character, His truths and His promises. Focus on what He has blessed you with and be thankful.

Gratitude has been scientifically proven to affect our outlook on life. Science has proven what the Bible has said for years – Be thankful in ALL things. Not just some…ALL THINGS! Gratitude rewires your brain to see the blessings that you do have.

As you move through your day, listen to what the Father is saying and do it. Ask Him questions. Communicate with Him. He’s always speaking and He wants whats best for you. Listen and follow what He says. He will lead and guide you.

If you are struggling with being discontent, and you want to trust in the Father in every area of your life but you’re unsure where to start, here’s a prayer for you.

Father, I am struggling to be content. Would you please help my unbelief? Would you forgive me for the times that I have placed my trust in myself or in others? I choose to put my trust in You and You alone. You are my provider. You are my strength. You are everything that I need. Help me to see your provision in every aspect of my life; and to shift my focus from what I don’t have, to what you have given me. I want to live in your peace; confident of your sovereignty in my life. Help me to hear your voice and to know your ways and to do what you ask me. I commit my life to you. Amen.