inspire me! {cure creative's block} part one

I'd venture to say, whether you're an artist, a writer, a musician, a seamstress, a designer...a creator, you have experienced Creative's Block at some point in your journey.

We've all been there.  That dry, disinterested path.  No inspiration, no direction.  It's downright awful!

In my own journey as a creative, I have discovered a few things that help to get the creative juices flowing again, and I thought that I'd share them with you!

The first one is so simple...yet so easy to forget.  I find myself forgetting this in my art as a writer all the time.

1. Pray

All right, so it sounds too obvious, and maybe even like a cop-out for the first in this series.  But it is my belief that this element is so important, and so often overlooked!

There are a couple reasons:

• God is the Ultimate Artist.  He wrote the first story (not to mention the story of eternity), He taught the birds how to sing, He painted the first sunset, He sculpted the first human...He even made the first clothes!  When you are looking to learn more about a craft, you go to those that have the most experience to learn and be taught by them.  God promises that He is always listening, and is always ready to bless those with wisdom that ask (James 1:5).

• What if God is trying to get your attention?  What if He has an incredible piece that He has for you to create, and He needs you to be totally focused on Him to do it?  Seek Him, read His Word (I always tend to get great story ideas when I read the Proverbs, just fyi! LOL), ask Him what He would have you to be focusing on right now.  

Isn't that what we are here for?  To bring Him glory and honor with the fruit of our hands?

Ask Him what is next, what would bring Him the most glory.  Implore Him for divine inspiration.

And then, wait.  (That's the hardest part--ask me how I know.)

Sometimes God gives us times of dryness as a part of the journey.  A time to be quiet and listen.  A time to just pray and seek His glory.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven..."

~Ecclesiastes 3:1

In the meantime, don't stop practicing.  You may not have a 'great idea' right now, but keep honing your skills for when you do!  It is crucial to stay on your game, to keep learning, to keep practicing.

When inspiration arrives, you want to be ready.

I hope you enjoyed the first part in this series!  Stay tuned for part two coming soon...

a crucifixion type love

Try to watch this video without getting goosebumps.  I dare you.

Go ahead.  I'll wait.

"...a love that would make angels wish that they were in our shoes..."

Wow.  Just...  Wow.

I watch that video, and I think of the relationship between lovers, as the video relates.  The relationship between Christ and His Church, His Bride, His Beloved.

Then I think of my own relationship with His Church.  My brothers.  My sisters.

How much more shall I die to myself in loving them?  

How much more when I spread my arms to embrace a dear fellow believer... 

How much more with that crown of thorns upon my head, surrendering my thoughts, my time, my ambitions, for the interest of my sister or brother...

How much more shall I give my back to be beaten, to carry the burden of my dear believer?

The picture of marriage, and the relationship between lovers is such an immaculate, beautiful representation of the sacrificial love with which He first loved us.

But then He calls us to go and do the same.

The love that sets us apart. 

"...a love that makes God get up and dance around his throne every time he sets his eyes on us..."

"In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."  ~1 John 4:9-11

immodesty is...insecurity?

I just listened to this short thought by John Piper on the topic of modesty, and posted this little (okay, lengthy) dissertation on a thought that I had on Facebook, and I thought I'd share with you all:

Before we can even DISCUSS the guidelines and boundaries of modesty, you must understand just how absolutely, totally, and truly you are loved by Jesus...is He your treasure? Is He your pursuit of happiness and joy? Do you really, truly, honestly realize what a treasure you are to Him? Is it Him you're looking to please, or others?

Girls, you are worth so much more. Modesty isn't just an attitude or a way of dressing, it's realizing your IDENTITY. It's realizing that you are SO MUCH MORE than how you appear on the outside. You are the daughter of the King. You were redeemed by His blood. You don't need to dress any certain way to be accepted or approved by anyone in this world. It starts with Him. Once your heart is His, from it will flow the love for others that will cause you to dress for His glory...whatever the boundaries may be that He will reveal to you.

I notice an epidemic of 'modest dressers' whose clothes cover, but their hearts are yearning for acceptance and attention. They may dress modestly for the sake of their parents, their peers, their church...all for the sake of being accepted and feeling like they belong. What then, is it still modesty? This is the evil root of the enemy, putting emphasis on the outward appearance, even within 'modest' Christian circles. It's no longer modesty. Though the clothes cover, it is immodesty at it's root--insecurity and vanity; idolatry, replacing the acceptance of God with men.

Modesty roots in the heart, knowing your place in the Kingdom of God. You are a princess. You are dressed proper. Lift your head, smile wide, breath deep, and realize your inexplicable worth to Him. He loves YOU. Yes, YOU, sweet girl.

‪#‎modesty‬ ‪#‎identityinChrist‬ ‪#‎worthsomuchmore‬ ‪#‎dressedbyHim‬

I know this is a bit of a hot topic this time of year (haha, no pun intended ;P), and I'd love to hear your thoughts on the above.

What do you think about Piper's position?

What do you think of the idea that immodesty is insecurity at it's core?

...before the dawn

Darkness.

Silence. 

Blackness.  

The kind in which you walk wondering where your foot's next step will rest.

The kind in which you wonder, if the path ahead leads to a garden of choicest fruits, or the edge of a cliff.

The kind that meets you in the very core of your being.  That makes your hands shake, your fingers numb.  As you stretch them out, grasping for a sign of something there.

Something besides you.  

Or are you alone?

In this abyss, you can't see.  Anything.

You can't hear.  Anything.

It's just you.  And that thudding heartbeat.

You stop.  The world is changing.  You begin to hear the stirrings in the trees above. 

The sound of rustling surrounds you.  Louder, louder, louder it gets!  Soon, chaos reigns.  You cover your ears in agony.  Your mind races with thoughts of the unknown creatures that could be causing the ruckus.  Will it hurt me?  Is this my last moment?  Will they kill me?

You run.  Your feet care not where they fall, just to get away.  Away from the noise, the chaos, the fear.  Run.  Run.  Run.

Tears begin to fall.  You know not why, but that your paranoia runs wild in the darkness.  For in the deep blackness, your future is unknown.  Your eyes are blind, for lack of the sun.  When the life seems boundless, the possibilities for fear run rampant.  The mind runs wild.

The symphony of chaos crescendoes, then ceases with deafening silence.  You stop.  Your heart pounds, you want to breath heavy, but you daren't make a sound.

You catch your breath.  It seems that all of creation does the same. 

As a flash of light illuminates the horizon.  Your heart feels as if it would burst.  But the dark line far away does first.  Before your very eyes, the darkness gives way to glorious light.  A mixture of pinks, oranges, yellows, and colors yet to comprehend by the human eye explode in that moment.  The moment after the world's breath caught.

The moment in which the darkness was conquered.  And the light reigned, again.  

Then you remember.  It's morning.  Just like yesterday.  The light won.  Just like yesterday.  During the night the darkness battled well.  Again, it fought for it's place in this world, seeking that it may reign the day.  The night seems not to be enough for it's hungry clutches.

But yet, the light catches.  And says no, strong.

All this.  A sunrise everyday for thousands and thousands of years.

And yet, it would seem that creation catches it's breath before every dawn.  Before the darkness gets what is coming to it.

God allows the darkness its time right before He shows up.  He never allows the darkness to tarry longer than we can endure.  He gives darkness it's way, so that when He shows up in His brilliant glory, He can steal our breath away.

Who can watch a sunrise without appreciating the beauty?  

Could it be that ingrained within our hearts is the thirst to witness light's victory over the darkness?

"...Weeping may tarry for the night,

    but joy comes with the morning."

~Psalm 30:5

{book review} Passion: The Light of Glory

I've been listening to Passion as long as I can remember.  I've dreamed of attending one of the Passion conferences since I was 12.  The CDs and songbooks played a vital part in my musical education.  Christy Nockels inspired my vocals, Chris Tomlin and David Crowder my guitar...

When I saw that Louie Giglio had put together a book for Passion I was all over it.   I mean it.  Like seriously, it was in my Amazon cart the same day I found out about it.  Until I saw that I could get it in one of my book review programs (happppppppy daaaaaance!!!).

Passion: The Bright Light of Glory is a compilation of all the best sermons from the various speakers at Passion over the years.  Stories and insights from passionate believers like John Piper, Beth Moore, Francis Chan, and even Louie Giglio himself fill the pages with inspiring words, challenging the next generation to rise up and be real for Jesus.  Isaiah 26:8 sets the stage for Passion's mission--that the Name and renown of Jesus Christ would be the desire of our souls.  How are we going to act on that desire?

As I read through this book, all I could say to the people around me was, "Oh my gosh, it's just so good.  You just have to read it.  It's so good."  Chapter after chapter, I continued to be blown away.  Encouragement on one page, deep challenge on the next.  Conviction on one page, grace on the next. Some of the chapters so deeply challenged me and twisted my brain into such awesome knots (thank you, John Piper)... I also really enjoyed the diversity between the teachers.

I'm so grateful for the passion of each of these individuals for the Lord Jesus Christ.  This book was fantastic--an excellent read for anyone looking to grow in their faith, to be challenged to live out their theology, to be emboldened with the weight of Gospel.

I give Passion: The Light of Glory 5 out of 5 stars!

Check it out on Amazon HERE.

I received this book free of charge from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

...for a little while

Hello, my dear readers!

I apologize for seemingly neglecting this little blog over the past couple of weeks or so.  In truth, I have been considering some pretty radical changes to make with this blog, and have been trying to collect my thoughts enough to make it happen!

Be on the lookout for some exciting changes within the next few weeks!

PS: I can't make any guarantees, but there might even be a name change! *gasp* I know, right?

Death by the Book {book review}

Drew Farthering wanted nothing more than to end the summer of 1932 with the announcement of his engagement. Instead, he finds himself caught up in another mysterious case when the family solicitor is found murdered, an antique hatpin with a cryptic message, Advice to Jack, piercing his chest.

Evidence of secret meetings and a young girl's tearful confession point to the victim's double life, but what does the solicitor's murder have to do with the murder of a physician on the local golf course? Nothing, it would seem--except for another puzzling note, affixed with a similar-looking bloodied hatpin.

Soon the police make an arrest in connection with the murders, but Drew isn't at all certain they have the right suspect in custody. And why does his investigation seem to be drawing him closer and closer to home?

(Summary by Amazon.com)

Oh. My.  I adored this book!  It was like a combination of the classic Sherlock Holmes and the more contemporary Radio Theatre drama series, Father Gilbert.  I enjoyed the classic, witty writing style, while the spiritual concepts woven through the story made it so much more than simply a thrilling tale.  The rush, the questions, curiosities, the mind bending drama with a little splash of romance thrown in--all to equal what could be considered the perfect mystery!

Even though this is the second book in a series, I had not read the first book and was able to easily understand this book as a stand alone.

Despite the nature of the story content, I found the violence and implied adult content to be very tastefully done.  I would not be afraid to let my 13-year-old brother read this book.  I appreciated the fact that the book was completely clean.  It was also not overly "preachy", rather had Biblical themes and references peppered tastefully throughout.

If you're in the mood for a good clean, fun, witty mystery, I would highly recommend Death by the Book!  Reaching an audience of anyone, Christian or non, ages 13 and up, this is the perfect mystery for when you're craving intrigue.

I give Death by the Book 4.5 stars out of 5.

Check out more information HERE!

I was given a copy of this book by Bethany Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions expressed are my own.