We all know how elusive creativity can be at times. You’ve shared some great ways to get those juices flowing. Here are a few more ideas.
Keep an Evidence Journal. Write down your God Stories. The times you saw God act. The times you felt His touch and presence. Do it with story or just key words. But get it down on paper. When God moves in your day, write it down. When someone speaks truth to your heart, write it down. When you struggle, write it down. Remember the children of Israel were told to write these truths on the doorposts that they might not forget all God had done for them. Then, when you’ve done that for awhile, go back and read what you wrote. It’s so easy to forget God’s faithfulness. What a blessing to have solid, firm evidence of His action, His presence in our lives, in our passion.
Share words with others. In other words, encourage! Being encouraging encourages us. Write someone a note or even an email. Or try writing a poem to that special someone, be it your mom or your sweetheart. Focus on the blessing these folks have been in your life, and let them know how much you appreciate them.
Read. Immerse yourself in words, gloriously written words. Think about it. If you were stranded on a desert island what four books would you want with you? Read them. Read kids books, too. (Anything by Dr. Seuss or Shel Silverstein is a joy.) Whatever books speak to your soul. Block out time each day to read. And do it someplace that you love. Your favorite chair, with the lights perfectly adjusted, the fire going in the fireplace, music floating around you…or not. Do it however you enjoy it most. Every day. It’s important. For your creativity and your calling.
Last installment coming next week!
You are getting very close to God’s own writing style. He picked up on the real life stories of ordinary people and captured them in His scrapbook, for the bible is really an anthology of great lives lived in grace. He does the same for our personal stories. That is the ultimate treasure chest of heaven, which is why gold is relegated to paving status.
Whenever I pray or spend time with Him He instils new thoughts, which I often feel compelled to capture immediately: for they are that precious that I dare not drop a word. I then share my thoughts with others, through Facebook, Blogs or in personal fellowship. However, I find that, just the way that picking fruit off a tree causes more to grow, so the more I share the more I get. I also find that in sharing my thoughts invites others to share theirs, and, as such, many have contributed real human dramas and inspiring thoughts, to whatever I have written.
So, at best, I am just a scribe – but, my sense is that He entrusts deep thoughts to scribes who would faithfully transcribe His words and steward them with care and respect to ensure, so that His lambs may be fed.
Amen and amen, to both Karen’s post and Pete’s remarks. Regarding kids’ books, I love the writing of Gary D. Schmidt.
I love the evidence journal idea. I keep a prayer journal but I sometimes forget to reflect on what God has already done. What an awesome testament to be able to look back over that a year or even several years later and see His faithfulness!
I like the idea of an evidence journal. Thanks.
Thanks, Karen, for mentioning this “permission to read.” Why does it still feel like a luxury I don’t always “allow” myself, when really, it’s necessary for both craft study and creative refreshing. Just last night I was curled in my favorite chair, fireplace going, Kindle in hand, one of the upcoming Titanic novels displayed. And to know that it’s good for me? Yes! Now if I could just quiet that nagging voice telling me to go “do” something…
Great ideas! When I worked in prison ministry, we kept an evidence journal where the women inmates could see how God answered their prayer requests. It was a very powerful tool! God used it to reveal Himself to these ladies.
I often jot down my ideas in a small notebook. I love to go back and read them. Some worked while others did not.
Social media is a great place to spread words of encouragement! An encouraging word on a FB status or Twitter can lift spirits.
Thanks for the post!
Karen, I love this. A blessings journal! Terrific post, and when troubled waters come, nothing speaks to your heart like evidence of past personal experiences.
I keep track of answered prayers in my prayer journal. I write a big AP in a contrasting color in the margin where I wrote the prayer when it is answered. It is very comforting to look back over the years to see how much He has blessed me.
Time has moved on since you wrote this post last month, but I wanted to thank you for these recommendations.
Jan. 25th was a key day for me as I went to a seminar on Becoming a Servant of God. I went to it hoping to hear God say, “Go take the courses you want on writing/editing. You go, Girl!” Instead He stated, “Stay where you are. I have more for you to learn and then pass on to others. Don’t move from what you’re doing right at this moment.”
Talk about sobering. As I’ve entered into where He’s placed me, I’ve started adding to my journal stories of God’s movement.
So, thank you for sending encouragement out my way to mark the evidence of Him.
And this is one appearance in a newspaper:
We are an American people, born under the flag of independence and if the Lord is willing and the creeks don’t rise, the American people who made this country will come pretty near controlling it. The Lafayette gazette (Louisiana), 3 Nov. 1894. The saying has been attributed to Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Jackson among others, on the usual principle that attaching a famous name to a story validates it. Mentioning Benjamin Hawkins is a masterstroke, since he was the General Superintendent for Indian Affairs between 1796 and 1818 and was principal Indian agent to the Creek nation; he became so close to its people that he learned their language, was adopted by them and married a Creek woman. Who better to write about the risks of the Creek rising in revolt?