Creativity

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On Sunday I gave my Children’s Church an assignment, to create a story about young Jesus, you know those years between the ages of 12 and 30, the so called “lost years” of Jesus that are not in the Bible. Got me thinking, what does the Bible say about “creativity”, about using our imaginations and “out the box” expressions that could be used to bring ourselves and others closer to Jesus? Does the Bible have anything to say about “creativity”? This week, we shall see…

MONDAY

“Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.” – 1 Timothy 4:14

First, “do not neglect the gift that is in you”. Life’s responsibilities have a way of drowning our gifts in the tsunami of obligations. We all got gifts, expressions dwelling inside of us, are we caring for them, nurturing them, sharing them? Are we living “either/or” lives, forgetting that we serve an “and” Savior? Our creativity could be the “art” that draws one to Jesus. The making of that “art” could be a conversation that Jesus is waiting to have with you. Do not neglect that gift.

Second, “given to you through prophecy”. God said, “I knew you in the womb”. It has decreed that each of us has a gift(s), that is to be shared with others. Our ministry could be “March of Washington” or “Smile Making Joke” sized.

Humans have a way of putting a value on everything, bigging some things and smalling others. Not to Jesus. Our creativity we share that inspires the spirit in another, is a gift, because God gave it to us, “in the womb”.

Share your creativity, with no hesitation, no worry, no judgment. It’s God-Given.

Be Blessed, Beloved.

Rev. Damon

www.faithfirst.me

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TUESDAY

“But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him?” – 2 Chronicles 2:6

When we think about everything that Jesus has done, is doing, will do for us, when we really think about it, we should be in one of two states; never ceasing, loud and expressive joy, or absolute stunned and still silence in complete awe. How we handle it?

Today’s scripture says, “even the highest heaven cannot contain him”. So, what should we do with all this praise and humility?

Create. Build. Make. Not for ourselves, but for others. In fact, as the rest of the scripture goes, being others to create, build, and make with us. No one’s blessing is “better” or “greater” than others, so let us all put out talents, our gifts, our arts together and create praises and prayers to our God who gave us our Savior and who sends the Holy Spirit.

Live in our celebration. Express our joy. Share our peace. Recognize the Grace. Inspire others. We do this not by hiding our creativity, but by releasing what has been God given to us.

No matter what our skills are, our talents, our creativity is, it is inside of us for reasons. For us, and For others.

Let us offer our praises and our prayers to the only one who is worthy… it just may be the “sermon” that heals someone else.

Be Blessed, Beloved.

Rev. Damon

www.faithfirst.me

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WEDNESDAY

“What use is an idol once its maker has shaped it— a cast image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in what has been made, though the product is only an idol that cannot speak!” – Habakkuk 2:18

Idols were made to give the people something to worship. They needed to see “something” because the nameless and formless God that had delivered them, worked on his own time and in his own way, according to his will… and that created a lot of “meantime”.

So the creatives were charged to create “a thing” that the people could see, touch, pray to, and yes, even blame for all the lean that happened in the “meantime”.

Why do you create? For credit? For attention? For accolades? For reward? What we create is to move people closer to God. Before you go there, say Psalm 150 with me, “let everything that has breath...” We are the “everything”.

Everything that we create should be from our relationship with God. Sometimes that relationship is GREAT… and sometimes… that relationship is rocky. I am not suggesting what we create, scripture is reminding us to question the “why” we create.

We create from a place of inauthenticness, then we are only making idols, we are not creating because of God, but instead of God. We are the everything that has breath… and the things we create are reflections of our relationship in that moment of genesis with our Creator. God is merciful enough (Jesus) to allow us to create from praise and pain, as long as God is the source.

For when we don’t, we produce idols that may be beautiful, but it will just be an “idol that cannot speak”, to the soul.

Why do you Create?

Be Blessed, Beloved.

Rev. Damon

www.faithfirst.me

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Thursday

“To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams.” – Daniel 1:17

A DJ, Two MC’s and Hype Man. This is N.W.A., A Tribe Called Quest. Or it’s the Four Tops, the Chi-Lites, Smokie & The Miracles. This is Daniel 1:17. Four Young Men that God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of poetry and songwriting to create works of information to be shared (wisdom). And one of them had the ability to see what God wanted to be said and shared.

God touches the young because they have a fearlessness that is required to create and share the works and word the world needs.

So, from here, I have two points I would like to share.

Encourage the young to embrace their creativity, no matter what genre or medium.God can use anything and anyone to speak to the people.Let us not be the hindrances to their magnificence.
Never lose that fearlessness in yourself. That fearlessness will be necessary to live a Faith First life.

The world does not run out of ways to dim the light of creativity that speaks from our soul. Let us not extinguish it ourselves. Resist. Fight! Share that gift.

The soundtrack of salvation needs your songs, poetry, fashion, culinary creations, interpretative dances, theatrical performances, etc.

Don’t deny God by denying us. You have been given knowledge and skill. Blossom it and Share it. The world needs it.

Be Blessed, Beloved.

Rev. Damon

www.faithfirst.me

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FRIDAY

“So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel.” – Jeremiah 18:3

Thinking about creativity, and what is art, and what isn’t. There is a famous quote by somebody, I don’t know who originated it, but it goes something like this, “I don’t know what art is, but I know it when I see it.” Ever heard that before?

When we create, when we bring something into existence that had never been, it must have been for a reason. Even in the process of creating, there is a thought we have supporting what we are creating.

That is you. There is a reason(s) why God created you! Then here comes Jesus, with all this Grace, Mercy, Forgiveness, Joy, and Love, inserting in us, taking us from void to fullness. And then that Holy Spirit, making sure we don’t spin off the wheel, but guiding us into fulfillment.

Just as the potter takes formless clay, covers it with moisture (baptism) to keep refreshing it, and then spinning it, using the friction of life (those hands) to hold it (us) steady, giving it (us) our stripes and shape, our height, thickness, weight so that the purpose can be completed.

Then when the process of creation is done, the pot is set in the Son to be covered and heal, which protects the surface from the worldly elements and assemble all the components in the inside, so even if life happens even when some reject the pot (us) because it is not “art”, or if it breaks from being mishandled, the pieces will still retain all that it was made to be.

Don’t be ashamed of what you create… nor be ashamed of being created. Regardless of what the world says, and how we are treated, we are a Master’s Piece.

One last thing. Because English is such a perplexing language, I wonder how the verse would feel if it was translated like this… “So I went down to the Potter’s house, and there he was, working at His Will”?

Just a question…

Be Blessed, Beloved.

Rev. Damon

www.faithfirst.me

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SATURDAY

“He has filled them with skill to do every kind of work done by an artisan or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and in fine linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of artisan or skilled designer.” – Exodus 35:35

There have been a lot of “he” in the scriptures used this week. One day we will ask the Common question, “what if God was a Her?” But that is for another week.

As we reflect on the week, remember and go forward with the fact that men were charged with the writing and publishing early versions of the Bible. That meant that the stories and scriptures used “he/him” to represent both men and women. I acknowledge that patriarchal privilege was a nuanced way to establish power… even in scripture.

This leads me to look creatively at the time of Exodus and today. Then, “He” was considered an “artisan” because “he” was a skilled artist. Today, in a lot of households, a “man” would not want to be considered “artsy”, using blues, purples, and crimsons to communicate his thanks for a God-given talent. Some would dare say a “he” expressing his love of God through fashion, poetry, art, dance, song, music, etc. is, “suspect”, yet, way back in Exodus, men were respected artists.

I ask, does the value of created art become less essential if it originates from the mind and hands of a woman? Would the testimony, expression, dare I say sermon, be less important if it is author was a woman?

Do you know who can’t paint? This guy can’t color at all. But for people who live outside of the lines, they probably don’t need me, but one who questions why the line is even there and finds the strength of faith to live outside the lines, just as Jesus did.

Expressed Faith comes from choirs, ministers, Pastors, Deacons, Trustees, and pulpits. Also come from canvases, still life, fashion, dance, metal works, graffiti, and the like, from people who may not look like you and me.

What is important… that we designate who can praise God, or that God is praised?

Be Blessed, Beloved.

Rev. Damon

www.faithfirst.me

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SUNDAY

“Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.” – Philippians 4:8

For our final message on creativity, I want to encourage us all and remember this scripture. When we hear the word “creativity”, we often think of works of “art”. Let us expand our understanding of what “art” is. “Art” is everything and anything we create. “Art” is everything and anything that inspires others.

“Art” is an instrument to lead us through situations, to help us deal with emotions, to bring joy, and comfort us in sadness. “Art” evokes and confirms rage and soothes and stabilizes the soul. “Art” is the home-cooked meal, the conversation to someone lonely, the prayer offered up, the holding of a hand, the moves on a dance floor, a statue, a sermon, a shared laugh.

The most important thing about creativity is this, whatever is created, is to be shared, witnessed by another. So please Sisters and Brothers, “Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Be Blessed, Beloved.

Rev. Damon