Tag: creative

Faith/

At His Word

I think the title of this post is my new favorite phrase right now. “At His Word” reminds me that Jesus is the one who makes all things possible even when we want to give up. Recently, I read through Luke chapter five and one of the most often repeated bible stories came alive for me in a new way. Here is the account from Luke 5:1-6 when Jesus sat in the boat teaching the crowd and what followed:

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him (Jesus) to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.

I have read this passage many times. I always think of the fish and the nets overflowing and how excited the fishermen must have been after not catching anything all night. After their unsuccessful trip they were ready to stop, go home, probably rest, and make plans for the next fishing trip. However, that’s not what happened. This time Jesus was there, in the midst of their circumstances. That changed everything.

Jesus told Simon to push out into the deep to fish. Simon told Jesus they had toiled all night and not caught anything (as if Jesus didn’t already know), but “at your word,” we go again. Their nets were so full, they overflowed and broke. What made the difference? Jesus did! His presence. His word. Because He said so, Simon was willing to try again. They had done all they could, used all their training and skill, but came away empty handed. They did everything right, but Jesus made all the difference. Now I don’t know whether Simon thought, “I will do it and show you it won’t work.” Was he simply acting out of obedience even though he may have doubted their success? Or was he fully stepping out in faith trusting in Jesus? We don’t truly know what Simon was thinking. We just know he acknowledged he was doing it because of the word Jesus spoke.

Why did the simple phrase “at your word” grab my attention this time? I thought about the many times I have tried things my own way, in my own timing and my own strength and they didn’t work. Even though I was weary from my efforts, I know there are instances when God told me to try again. As creatives, we pour ourselves into our work and often face rejection. We don’t get that publishing contract, record deal, or whatever we are working to achieve. However, this story reminds me to be ready so when God tells us to go back and do it again, we are willing to obey. We must have the faith to trust that if God tells us to do it again, He has a blessing on the other side for us.

How many times have we tried to complete a project? How many times has our work been rejected? How often have we gotten discouraged when we didn’t see the results of our hard work pay off? It happens so often; we probably want to give up. Like Simon, we might be doing everything right with all the knowledge, training, and skill we have, yet we still come up empty handed. we see someone else succeeding and we decide to copy what they are doing since our efforts have failed. Maybe we see the success of others and decide to copy what they are doing, hoping that will make the difference. I can tell you it absolutely will not. God doesn’t give each of us unique gifts and abilities so we can copy someone else.

God wants us to walk in relationship with Him so that when He speaks to us, we hear His word and know exactly what to do and when to do it.

When He tells us to try again, be willing to step out one more time “at His Word” just like Simon did. Although, we may be reluctant to step out because of previous failures, trust Jesus when He speaks. If we are doing what we are called to do, we must not give up. One day, God will speak and put His word into action over the situation and breakthrough will come. We will see Ephesians 3:20 in action with “him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…” Doors will open, divine appointments will happen when we least expect them. At His Word Jesus can fill our nets. At His Word He can bring dead things back to life.

Keep trying and don’t give up so when your “at His Word” moment happens you will be ready to pull your net in. If Simon had not still been in position with the boat, the net, and the other fishermen, he would not have been in place to receive that Word, act on it and then pull in the overflow.

Discernment/

Protecting Your Vision

Every year I look forward to creating my own vision board and even attending vision board parties if there are any. Those can be so much fun and enlightening to say the least. One year, I attended one of those parties. I was so excited to share with a small group of like-minded women of my short-term/long-term goals and hopes.

When it was my turn to share, you can tell the excitement of how big I smiled. I was so hopeful. You just had to be there.

After sharing with them my vision board, unexpectedly, I got a laugh and a scuff. Two reactions I did not see coming. I was told I was unrealistic, and my focus should be about my husband. Here is my disclaimer before I go any further. I love being married. My goals would include the one I love and those who mean so much to me. My goals also are about how I can obtain the purpose God has given to me. No paper or poster can really say that. Our purpose in life is like an unfolding mystery. God reveals this to us in due time. Relationship with God reveals purpose alone.

Back to my story. Doubt was cast and even the laughter made me feel pretty low. My hopes to become a mom and a social worker, among other aspirations, were somehow unattainable because of their doubt. But here’s what I gained from my experience:

1. Everyone cannot handle the vision God gave you.

2. Everyone is not for you.

3. The vision God gave you is for you, and doesn’t involve the haters, doubters and naysayers.

4. In this situation, it may have been premature to share what I have been praying for in private.

Although I felt the doubt temporarily, I prayed to God and also spoke to my husband about what I saw for my life. I knew my goals were not going to be achieved in a year. I have faith but I am also have wisdom. It came to a point where I had to decide between believing God or believing someone who isn’t omnipotent. To alleviate my fears and worries, I gave it back to Him; the Author and Finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:2)

I share my story to say, know the difference between what is true and what is false. What God has showed you is what is true. Protect your vision.

Nehemiah also protected the vision God gave to him as he set off to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He told no one what God placed on his heart to do (Nehemiah 2:12). Sometimes we need to take a page from the prophet’s book and hold on to what God gave us. There is a season for everything and what God has plan to come to pass will happen in due time.

If God has given you a vision for your business, make a plan. Write it out. Pray to God first and then move accordingly.

Rachel

Personal Growth/

How to Break Through the Creative Wall with Grace

How often do you find yourself questioning the path of your creative journey? Ever wondered how your unique approach to creation aligns with your faith and life as a Christian woman entrepreneur?

As creatives we must learn to trust the process of creating. Whatever form our creativity takes, there is a process. I think that is one of the hardest aspects I have been learning. For me, I have noticed three distinct patterns:

1. At times, the inspiration hits fast and hard. The vision of the project appears along with the specific ideas to complete it – a story, a song, an article, a book, whatever our medium. It unfolds effortlessly and very quickly. While this may sound like what we prefer, it’s not often the most common avenue (at least not in my experience).

2. Other times ideas start to flow like a steady stream – not all at once, but still a nice pace where we can develop our thread of ideas. While not all immediate, the work comes at a pace allowing us to fall into a comfortable rhythm.

3. The third pattern I have noticed with myself is probably my least favorite. This involves getting the big idea and nothing else. We may even visualize the completed project but have no idea how to maneuver from point A to the end. While we may have a clear idea of what it’s supposed to look like, we struggle to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

When we feel we’re not moving, we’re growing. Let’s trust in His plan, His process, and our God-given talents.

I think the third pattern I mentioned can be the most difficult to endure, but it often brings the most personal growth. Doubts about the vision and calling speak louder than the inspiration of ideas. Often in this valley, the project dies because we succumb to the temptation to give up. This is when we dig our heels in and persevere. We must learn the discipline of consistency and be steadfast in our determination to see the work through to completion.

Remember as creatives, we actually serve the work – as collaborators, trusting the Master Creator and using our God-given gifts as He designed us to use them. So, whether the ideas hit like lightening, or we find ourselves plodding along, it all comes from God. When we seek Him in all that we do, the work will be done in His time and serve the purposes He ordained. Both the process and the completed work often look vastly different from what we originally conceived.

One of the verses I always think about when I am not sure how to move forward with the work comes from Phil 1:5-6 ESV:

“…because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Through every business challenge, every creative block, He is with us.

Not every piece we write, or every song we compose, or video we produce, will be our best masterpiece. But we must be disciplined enough to show up consistently for the work. The alternative is not something we want. Once we are an artist of any kind, we are always an artist. And if we are a creative who ceases to create, we lose a crucial part of who God created us to be.

We are left with a void because we stop acknowledging a vital part of who we are along with that aspect of our connection with the God. So, even amid the difficulties, find a way to stay open to that part of who you are. Stay faithful to the work of collaborating with God – in whatever form that takes for you. Trust Him to lead you through the process.

Faith/

Your True Purpose as a Creative

I’ve been a writer for years – and just like any Christian creative out there, your purpose is to create. This can be by writing an article, designing a website, clothing, or brainstorming an incredible product. By our creativity, other people’s lives are changed. This is what being a Christian creative is all about and we must remember this purpose whenever we are called by God to share our ideas with others.

As a creative, we have both a mission and a vision when we create. However, there is a special purpose that lies beneath our mission and vision and this purpose is what drives us to do what we do. One may ask, where does this purpose come from?  It comes from our calling and talent given to us by God. God has plans for us all by what we create.

Your unique blend of faith and creativity can move mountains. Your purpose-driven work has the potential to transform lives, and inspire breakthroughs.

Personally, as a writer, I keep in mind that the act of spreading messages through the written word has been one of the oldest forms of communication since the beginning of creation and still stands strong throughout the depths and changes of time today.

And if you’re a writer, then you probably understand where I’m coming from with this. The Lord has spoken to us through the written word as it is a wonderful way for humans to absorb a message. If this is a way God creates and speaks to us, then it is a way we should continue to communicate with others. As said in John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” Because of this, we can never lose sight of our own purpose and why we write or why we were given the gift to do so creatively.

A Christian creative has a duty. We must continue to do the work of our Almighty God as Jesus did while here on Earth. We see this applied in John 14:10, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.” Jesus guided the people through The Divine Purpose and Word of God. If we follow Jesus’s example, we can continue to do so as well.

Every product, service, word, or interaction has the potential to change someone’s day, challenge their perspective, or spark hope.

Lastly, it’s important to be mindful that if we need inspiration, there are holy writings ready for us to read which we know as scripture. By keeping scripture close by our side and keeping sight of our purpose as we create, our work can journey among others far and wide across the world.

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