Creativity

So this is an assignment I just did today and turned in for one of my classes... but it was nearly making me cry as I wrote it... so I thought I'd post it. :)

Why should I be creative? This is a question that every student of creativity does or should ask. There is no point in studying something if I do not know how it will benefit my life. So what is the point? The point is that God created me to be me as part of a bigger world.

God created. My goal in life is to become more like my God and Father. When God made me in His image, that means that He instilled in me the ability to create. He gave me the ability to make beauty out of chaos. So since my goal is to become more like Him, how can I not practice the gift He gave me of creativity? I choose creativity because it reflects my Creator– Father God.

God created me to be me. God did not make me someone else. When God put my specific set of talents and dreams together into the person that is me, He did so for a reason and He did not make me as a repeat of someone else or someone else as a repeat of me. This means that I am unique. I am special. Without me, there would be a gap in God’s created world; He made me to fill that hole. I am to use my creative endeavors and my ability to be different or think in a different light to serve His purposes. I choose creativity because my Creator made me to fill a specific purpose.

God created me to be me as part of a bigger world. News flash: there are more people than just me in this world! When God created me to be unique, He also created all of the other people in His world to be unique. My giftings are not only particular to me, and they not only fill a special place, but that place touches specific lives. By using my creative and unique abilities, I can touch the other lives in the corner of the world where He put me. I choose creativity because embracing it through my abilities can change my corner of the world for Him.

As I pursue a life which will embrace who God made me to be, it will include being creative in my everyday life. While my everyday life may not always include taking photos or pouring Latte Art, it will include opportunities for me to search out the best way for me to go about a specific task or fulfilling a specific need. My perspective will be different than the girl’s next door. This is the meaning of creativity and this is why I need to be creative: because God created me to be me as part of a bigger world.

 

Power of a Prayer

I don't know if you knew it, but I am incredibly blessed. Last year, I came to school and met two new friends who lived in my dorm room. I have never met such beautiful, encouraging, sweet, Godly girls. One of them, in particular, ministered to me simply because she loved me. She was sweet, incredibly sarcastic and ridiculous, and would even holler out the window at the moon every night. She brought such a positive energy to the room. My other roommate, in particular, challenged me to dig for what I believe, showed me that I'm not too young to stand up for what I believe, courageously faced the difficult questions with me.
In my room, there was never a fight. We never had so much as a disagreement. We had more laughs and love than in any other period of time in my life up to that point. Before I came to college, I was told that rooming would be hard, that I would not have roommates who I could get along with.
But my mom prayed. The moms of both of my roommates prayed. They prayed for a year before we came, specifically about our room. I've never heard of another room like ours. Their prayers were answered.

This year, my RA and I meet regularly for times of encouragement and prayer. That woman has more passion to reach her world than I have seen in a long time. Last year we were in a small prayer group together with two other ladies pursuing Christ. Every week, my heart was touched. One week, in particular, they spoke truth into my life and told me that I would get through the trials and I would emerge triumphant, because of Christ. They prayed for me. I left that night leaving the weight of my world at the foot of the Cross. This year, we continue to meet. She speaks truth into my life and every day that I beg my Father to touch my hurting heart, she writes me a note telling me that I matter or she finds me on campus and gives me the biggest hug I'll get all week.

Tonight, I was meeting new friends in the suite across from me. We got to discussing real-life issues like slavery and sex trafficking. When the night was ending and we were all headed back to our rooms, someone said simply "hey. We've been discussing some hard things. Can we pray before we all go?"
So we stopped. We prayed.
More than one of us was in tears. We pleaded, we implored. We waged a war against the enemy and against the forces of darkness.

What do we know of the power of a prayer!? My GOD and my ABBA FATHER is the ALL-POWERFUL Creator of the UNIVERSE!
He answers my prayers for little things. He speaks truth into my life when I am hurting and half-mindedly utter a prayer asking for assurance. When five of us gather together, in one voice, in one accord, what do we know of the power we unleash??

If we truly began to understand the power we can access, how would our world change? What could we accomplish? How many lives would change?

What do we know of the power of a prayer?!

Break My Heart for What Breaks Yours

Break my heart for what breaks Yours.
Give me Your eyes to see.


These are my prayers every day.
God breaks my heart... but never like anyone else's I know.
People around me talk about how God's broken their heart for the unreached, unbelieving people of the world. This is God's heart. I always hear that THIS is what God wants from His people.

I've known for a long time that's not where my heart is. Don't get me wrong (as people generally do) I want people to come to Christ - it's the most important thing in life!
But my biggest passion?
My passion is for those who are "Saved". They are unreachable because they think they've already got it. They go to church, so they're set. Don't tell them they're not following Christ.

Yes. The Great Commission says "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations..." (Matthew 28:19, NIV). BUT!!! It does not merely ask that we bring people to a knowledge and acceptance of Christ. It commands us to make disciples. Making Disciples is bigger than converts. It's nurturing and growing people once they're "in the fold."

So. God's heart is obviously (seeing as it's His command to us) not only to bring people to a saving knowledge of Him, but it's also then to continually bring them closer and to not abandon them at the steps of the church in the name of going out to find more to bring to the church.

God's heart breaks for those who don't know Him.
I say God's heart also breaks for those who don't know Him.

My heart is broken for what many other peoples' hearts are not broken for. My heart is broken for what many do not understand.

When I pray "Break my heart for what breaks Yours," I believe that God breaks different peoples' hearts differently. No one person experiences the fullness of God's pain. Another person says God's heart is for the unreached. I say it's for those who don't grasp the fullness of God.
They aren't mutually exclusive. God's heart is for both.
God doesn't give all of His desire/pain to any one person because in our human-ness, we could not handle it.
I believe that God's pain and God's desire for each person is so intense that it would literally and physically break us. God in His graciousness doesn't give us what we ask for. Instead, He gives us a taste of His heart or His "eyes".

Father, Thank You that You don't break my heart with the enormity of what breaks Yours. Thank You that instead You show me what You want from me.
I praise Your caring omnipotence.

Past's Future, Future's Past

I just saw a picture. It was of a Latte Art competition.
Not too long ago a friend told me that it was more exciting that I was going to college than that he was going to college. "Because [I] didn't think [I]'d ever have this opportunity."
Four years ago, I started attending Lakeland Christian Accademy.
I traveled alone to Asia, pursuing a dream - which I didn't even realize til about the time I left.
In barely over a month, I shall be leaving my home, off on my own.

In the past, I never would have seen coming that past's future, which God had planned for me. In my future's past, what did I not see coming in that future?

God, may I truely and readily submit my pasts, futures, presents and dreams to You. Your plans for me are for my good and prosperity, not my harm. Your plans give me Hope.

Home Again

I'm home! I'm tired, by the end of my trip I was very frusterated on a few fronts, I missed my friends and family... but at the same time, I was sorry to leave, I can't wait to some day go back, I have new friends, and I am SO blessed to have been on a trip.
I'll try to write a whole update when I have a chance, but tonight I'm going to bed!
I didn't write more while I was there because the computers I got on wouldn't let me get to my blog... :/
anyway!

Hope to see you all soon!

Arrived!

so! I'm here! The trip has been amazing thus far and my team is amazing. Currently I am in Campong Cham, Cambodia. Yesterday we went to one of the DR locations here and met a bunch of the girls. We worked for a good chunk of the day cleaning the facility. In the evening, we went line dancing by the river and the girls from all the homes joined us.what fun!! Today we will see the sewing school and have some time at the market etc before heading back to Phnom Penh for a couple days.

Prayer requests include:
The heat (which thankfully wasn't too bad for the first couple days)
Bonding with the team
My attitudes (as I might be having a bit of a hard time with one of the team members)
Sleep at night

God has blessed our team this long with health and good travels (for the most part).
I do love you all!!