First, Elsheimer relates how she began to breathe out and stop the “avoidance dance”, the stalling or postponing of creative work, and just started. She relays how she must start writing before she knows what she will write. (p.88) I can relate to that. Early on in my writing career (ok, grade school) I was taught the value of “faucet writing” when I was given freedom to just write what came to mind. The first three or four lines were always nonsense, but soon the deeper thoughts started to flow and some that followed were even profound.

 
In the next paragraph, she speaks of serving the work as well, simply being available to create the work that God brings to us and when there is no inspiration, we must still “show up” just as we do for work. We are to set a time for creative work, “prime our creative pump” with exercises, pay attention and be ready when the inspiration arrives. Scheduling and praying over this concentrated time is key. (p.89)

 
The powerful quote by Leo Tolstoy opened my eyes to the important task of obeying God, and in so doing, contributing to the greater good of the world. Sometimes it is easy to forget that what we do, even if we only share it in a miniscule way, can have an eternal impact. (p.90)

 
I can really relate to the paragraph about distraction coming from the enemy of our creative souls. While the needs of others can be important, I pray for discernment on whether I should spend time with them or get on to my creative task for the day. (p.91) Later on, she writes about how he masquerades as a critic of our work as well. This concept can also apply to what we were taught as children about how to spend our time. Was creativity given importance in your young life or pushed to the bottom of a to-do list and do you put your creativity there now? Do you struggle with distractions of a similar spiritual nature and how do you or can you combat them? My note in the margin reads, “Substitute Scripture for the lies.” If you come upon some good verses, please share them in a comment.

 
A good point emerges when she writes that, by nurturing our artistic self, we will be better able to function in our other roles, including that of helping others. (p. 92) I especially like the thought of taking more time for my creativity while giving others more concentrated “quality” time with me. I want to focus on what He wants me to, delegate what I can and prune the rest off. (p. 92) To do this, I plan to schedule days for painting, writing and “field trips” in my calendar and make scheduling them a part of my lifestyle. Also, no phone calls (made or taken) during creative time, which means planning meeting with friends and others in advance.
 
What will help you zero in on this time to create?

 
On the next two pages she provides a series of questions to help us determine what we are afraid of when thinking of these areas. (p.94-95) My biggest fear is that other things for my home, family and general life will not get done and that someone or something will suffer. Do you want to share one of your fears?

 
To find and keep a seperate space for creativity seems to be a challenge for many artists I know and for me as well. I loved her advice to find one, dedicate it to God's creative work and make an agreement with family on its use. For those of us with children, the boundaries must be especially clear so our supplies stay intact and available. (p. 96-97)

 
A theme throughout the chapter is to not worry about the outcome of your work; its success or failure. Just produce, create and enjoy the process.

 
As I read the portion of Ephesians 6 which she includes. I began to circle certain words and ask myself what they had to do with my creativity. For example, what is the truth of my calling as a creative or its importance to salvation (mine or that of others)? Writing the answers validated my call all the more.

 
I love the concept of what I will call Spirit Room. Not just a place where we can focus on our projects, but space where the Spirit can inspire us. “Like the disciples, we have to place ourselves where the Spirit can meet us so he can open our hearts and our mouths to speak our 'new thing' “. (p. 103) So Elsheimer stresses that we need to attend to the work, be there and whether we are inspired to paint or not, work on our craft to be better prepared for those times when that inspiration “strikes”. (p.104)

 
“It is about discipline and perserverance, about setting aside a specific time and place for attending to the work... Begin with action, trusting God for the inspiraton.” (p.105)

 
Well done! See you for the review of chapter seven soon.

I  hope  you had a blessed Thanksgiving! I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share this blog with you and hope it is ministering to your spirit.
 
Breathing In opens with a little muse-ing. Some history on the muse gave a good background for the following thoughts.
 
According to the author, by 1674 the Holy Spirit replaced the mythological nymph of inspiration as Muse. (p.71-72). Elsheimer writes that, "This... is the same Spirit we call on today to inspire us, as artists, to become co-creators with God." (p. 71) "God has given us our talents and the Holy Spirit, when called on, will breathe life into us so that we will know what to do with those talents... Our art is not necessarily Christian in content, but it is centered in the truth that the Holy Spirit reveals." (p.72)
 
Ms. Elsheimer exhorts us by writing that the as we answer the call to create and respond to the invitation to co-create with God, three elements become vital in the process: "creator (artist), inspiration (Holy Spirit) and medium of expression (our creative language)". (p.74)
 
I love the quote from Isaiah used in the same section. This same verse planted the seed from which this ministry grew: "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:19)
 
My heart did a flip at the thought that God, the Master Artist, wants to breathe His Holy Inspiration into us. It is our job to reach out and simply receive it. (p. 77)
 
Have you ever just written or painted or danced without an agenda to see what what would happen? After a quick write exercise, Ms. Elsheimer shared this observation:
" ...just as God doesn't always answer our prayers when and how we think he should, he doesn't send us great, inspired artistic ideas on demand either... What we call artist's block often stems from reliance on oneself as a source of ideas and energy apart from our reliance on the Holy Spirit...Of course, our own humaness can get in the way." (p.78)
 
By far my favorite morsel from this chapter is that when God call us to create and inspires us, it is because His Spirit will last within us and what we create will also last because of that. She also encourages us to think of ourselves as artists and overcome the discomfort of calling ourselves as such so we can begin to pay attention as an artist does. (p. 79) 
Sharing a common theme with this ministry, she aptly shares that using our senses or what another author calls, "absorb(ing) the world around us and learn to see that world anew with eyes of child-like wonder" is very important. (p.80)
 
"We've defined "breathing exercises" as putting ourselves into places and positions where we can feed our sensory receptors and open our hearts to the inspiraton of the Holy Spirit." She also encourages us to get specific about a project, write it down and go places which will make sensory impressions on a similar theme. (p.85)
 
Her conclusion to this chapter is perfect. We are to stand at the ready in expectation with humility since we never know when the Spirit will send a new message. If we make time to receive it and do these things, we are on our way to becoming the artists He created us to be. (p.86)
 
How did this chapter spur you on creatively? What things can you do to "breathe in" the inspiration the Lord may have for you this week?

He wants to blow "usual" right open. Are you game?

More senses. More Impact. More recall.

 
Imagine your group or congregation not only engaged, but enthralled.
Every eye riveted,   
From small groups to large organizatons.
SENSORY WORSHIP & STUDY (TM)
 
 The impact of His Presence and Word.
 

 

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.  2 Timothy 1:6-7
 
These two verses jumped out at me like never before. The Holy Spirit began to stoke the passion He originally gave me for this ministry. The passion? To help creative people become all they can be and engage people with the arts for God's glory and their own edification. If you look on the homepage of this site you will see the purpose statement He led me to for this calling. The groundwork is laid, every detail is prayed over and things are starting to happen. The embers are burning slow and steady; lives are touched. All praise goes to the Master Creator. I just get the feeling He wants to infuse and propel this thing with more of His holy oil.
 
Anointing oil in the Bible often represented the favor or Presence of God. Think back to the accounts of the building of the Tabernacle and Temples. The structures needed to be finished before the Shekinah, or the Presence of God could enter into them, though it could also manifest as a cloud leading the way or sheltering the Israelites from harm. Well, the Word tells me that my body is the temple of the Holy Sprit. I believe this ministry is a vehicle He wants to use as well. He will indwell it as He did those structures-it is just a structure of a different kind. if I want those this ministry touches to be passionate about creativity in worship and life, I'd better be saturated, infused and fully controlled by the Spirit of the Master Creator myself.
 
As I thought about this, my eyes zeroed in on the word "power" and I purposed to look up its root. It isn't that I'm timid about my gifts, this ministry or my God. I know He has given me a spirit of love and self-discipline and these things are being developed in me.
 
A spirit of power. There's more to that one.
 
What kind of power are we talking about? I looked at a few commentaries on the shelf at a bookstore later that day. One said the root of the word is dynamis in Greek. That's where we get the word dynamite and means that something is characterized by power and energy. The same Spirit that fell upon the disciples in power at Pentecost, the same Spirit that raised Lazarus from the dead, and the same Spirit that turned Paul the author of those verses, a vehement persecutor of believers, into a passionate convert, lives in you and I if we have asked Jesus to come live in our hearts. Not a little party popper, not just a firecracker, but a prisoner-freeing, bone-gathering, soul-saving DIVINE DYNAMITE activated by the Supreme Super-Being Himself.
 
He's given me the fuel of His Word, His Spirit is the Fire and He will provide the avenues for great-no, spectacular things to happen to His glory! In fact, He has been creating a revival in the arts for some time. On November 21st,  500 world-renown artists gathered together in the Vatican for a summit to revive the creative arts as a catalyst for a renewal of faith. That's the biggest thing to happen there since the Renaissance, In fact, it is a type of Second Renaissance (that part of this ministry, by the way, came way before the Vatican event was advertised. God is moving this way all over the world right now!). The Pope called for this  summit. How I would have loved to be a fly on the wall on that day! Ah, but I can do my part right where I am. So can you.
The Spirit of the Master Artist is fanning the creative flame word-wide and is telling me to get busy. Okay, I thought. What exactly do I need to do from here, Lord?

It didn't surprise me when He led me to pick up a nearby book named The Power of Vision by George Barna. I could almost hear Him say with a slight laugh, "Glad you asked!"
"That was quick!" I whispered under my breath.
While I can dial God's line directly through the work of Jesus on my behalf, I seldom get such fast answers to prayers like that one. It confirmed that He wanted to add fuel to the fire already in my spirit. I got the feeling this little spark was going to turn into a raging, holy fire of creativity as more doors open, more people join in and our faith is strengthened when we see Him move powerfully!
 
I will keep you updated. Perhaps you would like to join me by reading the book also (it has a study guide). Ask the Lord to ignite the fire of vision in your life as well.  Let us look to His Word and Spirit for guidance, perhaps be led to a selective fast (check with your doctor) and believe that He will do incredible things. Then we can expect some HOLY DYNAMITE to explode in our lives! I got a taste of something like this last month and He brought healing, deliverance, salvation as well as dreams and visions into my life and the lives of others in my circles. Trust Him. If you seek Him with all your heart, soul and mind His Power is the limit and that says it all.
 
For more inforamation on the New Renaissance Rising, a separate organization focused on the above movement of God, please go to their site: http://thenewr.org/
 
 
The Power of Vision: Discover and Apply God's Plan for Your Life and Ministry by George Barna
: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=747283&item...
 

I'm willing to put my wheels where my mouth is...
 
One of the best ways to refresh creativity and allow God to talk with us is to get away from our regular routine. Whether you go with friend or alone, "Come away and get some rest..." (and fresh perspective). A well-planned outing to a new location or a road trip can literally bring you back to your senses.
 
First Exit: Boulder
Some friends and I took a jaunt to Boulder in early November. Since I spent some time in Santa Cruz, California, I look forward to visiting places with a similar flavor and flair. Boulder delivered. In fact, it seemed like the perfect cross between the coastal town and the open air mall in Boston. Our first stop: the famous Daneshabe Tea House.
 

 The artwork is lovingly hand-painted.

 

 
The best part of this mouth-watering feast for me was finding Mexican-style ceviche (seh-vee-cheh), a fish cocktail made by letting the fish marinate in lime juice for several hours. Tomatoes, onions and spices complete the flavor and you scoop it onto corn chips or, in this case, crispy-sweet plantain chips. It was fresh and light! Their famous Ginger Bread Cake was another story, it was dangerously dense and rich, so we passed it around and each had two or three bites. Oh yes, the Berry French Toast I shared for dessert was delectable with my Garden Romance tea, a gentle infusion of rose petals, jasmine and other flavors.
 
 
The Tea House has all manner of tea cups and pots or sale. http://www.boulderteahouse.com/

We took a quick browse, as one Australian friend woudl say, and then walked through the farmers' market.
 
My eyes were drawn to the vibrant hues below. Can you almost taste a sweet, crips bell pepper? God really is the Master Artist and Lover of variety. Look at how they the colors blend flawlessly and harmoniously.
 

 
 
Then it was onto the Celestial Seasonings plant and headquarters.
.
 
Had it not been for my first taste of Lemon Zinger, I may never have taken to tea at all. Save for obligatory green or jasmine tea at asian restaurants, I was tea-impaired. Celestial was the first company to combine unusual flavors in such a creative way. Now I am a fan of their Roastaroma, Vanilla Hazelnut, Coconut Chai and other innovative blends.
 
The breathtaking artwork used for various tea box designs hangs on the colorful lobby walls. Next time you are in front of these tea boxes at the story, be sure to look at each carefully as they are truly magnificent. We were also enthralled by a whimsical collection of tea pots on display as we sampled teas and waited for our tour to begin.
 
        Skinny tea, anyone?
My favorite, an oriental art-inspired piece that could be in any world-famous gallery.
 
The various scents swirled around us, tickling our nasal passages and beckoning us to move onward. We learned about the various stages the tea leaves go through during the preparation process. The tall stacks of bins were labeled with various pure herbs, flowers and of course, the tea leaves themselves which are kept separate and are mainly for green or black though they also have white and red tea shipments.
 
    Dinosaur kettle.                                             Rusted metal barn teapot.       
 
I wish we had been allowed to photograph this next part of the tour, but alas, you will have to use your imagination. Picture a large gate rolling upward to reveal bags upon bags of peppermint and spearmint teas. You are prepared to meet the tour guide's challenge to enter the room and stay for at leas one minute. No problem. In you stride confidently and breathe deeply. At first the invigorating smell is amazing, waking your brain and making your toungue tingle. Now your eyes are tingling...no stinging... Suddenly your throat begins to itch and tears begin to form where the stinging started. You can't get out fast enough. The reason they close the gate on the Mint Room is that the smell is so pungent that it will pollute all the other flavors of the tea and actually be perceived for miles within one week if not closed. Now that's minty fresh!
 

A porcelain beauty.
 
The intricate system of coveyor belts and wrapping machines was at a non-production day standstill, yet we were astounded to find out that this modest plant produces thousands of boxes of tea each production day. To top off our tour, we headed to the gift shop and enjoyed picking up varous items to enhance our recollections later. We stocked up on favorite teas and on the special holiday ones like Gingerbread Spice and Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride. It turns out that the company that has acquired Celestial's line of teas, the Heins company, also owns Alba and Jason natural skin products and the products were available at a reduced price. I couldn't resist and picked up some Kukui Nut Body Cream-mmmm; it smells like a Caribbean vacation!
After the tour and a lovely chat outdoors, we shared appetizers at a local restaurant and proceeded to Peppercorn. This is no ordinary cooking store. This is a two-story culinary resource and tool emporium chock full of every food preparation book, accessory or gourmet product and appliance you can think of, and then some.The napkin rings still sparkle in my mind's eye. The tought of experimenting with some recipes from the specialty cookbooks I perused still make my salivary glands prolific. I purchased a snazzy hot pink, two-sided spatula for myself and we pitched in together for another to give to our group leader. Some shortbread to nibble on the ride home completed my purchases for the day and we piled into the car, bellies and senses satisfied, for our return drive to our usual lives.
 

Tea kettle or modern art?
 
If you can't make it to Boulder, check out the Celestian Seasonings online tour when you are done reading this.
tp://www.celestialseasonings.com/
I promised myself that I would savor this life using my senses as teachers a few years ago. This getaway was an invitation to leverage my senses in order to push my creativity a little futher. It's time to take some risks and thnk outside the proverbial tea box. My taste buds explored an old favorite coupled with a sweet alternative to the tired torilla chip.  I tried a new tea combination and loved it. My artistic perspective was refreshed as I looked through the camera's eye for a change. Why not produce story-book, color-saturated art of high quality and put it on a box of tea? Why not take an everyday utiltarian object such as a tea kettle and celebrate its artistic potential? How can you make a spatula more fun and functional at the same time?
 
It is official: Boulder beckons me back for a second visit. Maybe I will see you there.
 
Time to let some Truth infuse our hearts: Are you getting tripped up by a boulder in your creative/spiritual journey or getting bolder in your witness through it?
 
2 Corinthians 3:4-18 (NIV) 4Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. ⁵Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. ⁶He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
 ⁷Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, ⁸will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? ⁹If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! ¹⁰For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. ¹¹And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
 
 ¹²Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. ¹³We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. ¹⁴But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect^[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
 
Go forth, creative and faithful ones, and may the Rock of Ages make you bold-er indeed.

Update: If you are interested in meeting in person for the final four chapters and conclusion and live in the southern metro Denver area, please send us a message using the contact form to the left. We will be meeting at 2 p.m. on December 12th.  We will resume with our online discussion on another book focused on creativity and faith sometime in mid to late January. Check back for details. Thanks and have a great Thanksgiving holiday.
 
 

Que haces cuando necesitas inspiracion? Vas al museo? Al cine? Cuentanos.

I just joined the Facebook madness and hope some of the people I connect or reconnect with come here for a visit. In this economy, a virtual vacation is better than no vacation at all. Hopefully they are just around the corner and will pull up shortly.
 
Getting back in touch with people is an intersting phenomenon. Funny how we go through seasons in life when we want to just get on with our future, then get married and start a family or settle into a specific way of life. I feel like I've lived several different lives and lifetimes-each with interesting circumstances and lessons learned. Because I value good, solid friendships, it was important to me to find some of the most important ones I've been blessed with to see if there was still some potential for further relationship. 
 
It's the same with God. 
 
He longs for relationship with us and pursues us. No matter how many years it takes...He will continue to send you messages in one way or another.  It took me a long time to "confirm" Him as my friend. That was twenty-one years ago and I don't regret a second of it.
 
Imagine getting this special invitation in your inbox:
 
Revelation 3:20-21 New International Version- Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. ²¹To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
ot
 
John 6 44 (New International Version)  "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day."
 
He's sending out the ultimate Friend Request to mankind in hopes that all will Confirm and accept His unbelievable invitation.
 
 
One day, those of us who have confirmed a personal relationship with Jesus will get "uploaded" and have the biggest reconnection party of all time. Facebook and other social platforms online these days are but a shadow of the great reunion which will take place in the sky as we are caught up together to be with Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith. Have you lost a loved one and long for that mysteriously glorious day when you will see them once more? It may not be very long at all!
 
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (New International Version)
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.
The trumpet call of God will most likely be the sounding of a shofar, or ram's horn used in ancient Bible times and in the Jewish celebration of Rosh Hashana, which coincidentally, begins at sundown on the 18th of this month!
All the precious people from each season of our lives who know Him will be there. We will know them because they will still look like their own selves. But they will have the robe of righteousness that God has given to believers, will be healed of any disease and will be completely whole, at peace and full of His joy. Constantly. No more divorces, no more wayward children, no illness or depression. Not a tear in sight, weary reader, they've been saved and safeguarded in heavenly jars never to be unstopped again. It may not be visible, but the tapestry of Christ's work will weave us together in perfect unity once and for all. No more regrets, apologies, misunderstandings, unmet expectations, hurtful words or mistakes. The past will fade away in an instant and our relationships will be made perfectly whole again, without our sin to get in the way. Oh, sweet day! That is one event I am glad to be invited to and willingly accepted the invitation.
 
Need encouragement today? If you know Him, keep your eye on the sky and your heart in His hands! The catching away of the Bride, the Church, could be at any moment based on the latest prophecies which are coming true in these days! If you don't. I encourage you not to wait on that Friend confirmation. Contact me for help with the how.
 
My hope and prayer is that He will bless this page as new friendships are formed as well as deepened and that old ones renewed and restored. After all, we don't know how long our earthly connection will last and we can start early. Soooo...
 
 You have a Friend request and He can't wait for your confirmation. After all, who knows when we will get uploaded? It could be any time now...
 
For a fascinating clip on the relevance of Rosh Hashana to modern-day believers, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiF8VuR7GiE

We are now the proud owners of an 2.5 pound bread maker. Yes, we took the plunge and thought about it for some time. My son is gluten intolerant so I will be experimenting with recipes. If you have any that have worked for you, please pass them along. 
 
Our second addition is about the same size. I figured that my life is about to get much busier working on this ministry, so we purchased a nice crock pot. The last one I had was ceramic with two settings and burned the bottom half of my dishes if I didn't watch it carefully. This one even has a probe!! Once that chicken or pot roast is there it gets harpooned, yes sir! Now the only problem is the recipes. We still have so many foods that don't agree with us that it is posing a challenge. Rice is good as a base, so I may start there. We can add almonds, almond oil, small bits of carrot, egg, peas and other foods. I love that it can be pre-set and will shut off but keep the food warm because there is a long road between the cooking and the actual eating for us sometimes!
 
Last, the must-have health craze item: a juicer. So far, I have to say that the juicing works well. It is a good thing that fresh juice gives you a boost of energy, 'cause you have to clean this machine right away or it's tough to clean at all. My favorite juice so far is a kale, apple, carrot and ginger cocktail served up first thing in the morning before I walk the dog.
I joined our local health center as well and took my first class. The gym bag is in the trunk and the excuses are gone. Here's too seeing just how great I can feel. This blog may be continued on the Convertible page since it is a journey to well-being. Feel free to join me over there if you want to come along.

Sometimes the biggest mountain in our path to doing what God wants us to is...us. Put that hand to the plow and don't look back. When it comes time to defend that work, take up the Sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith as well as the rest of the armor and ask God for a bountiful harvest though you can't see the seedlings sprout yet.
 
Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.