Day 3: Standing Tall Together

A few years ago, we had the opportunity to visit Redwood National Park in northern California. I remember walking through forests blanketed by lush ferns growing around these gentle giants that seemed to touch the sky. Imagine the Creator of those trees!

Some facts about redwood trees …

·Redwoods can grow as tall as 400 feet.

·The oldest redwood is thought to be over 3,200 years old and is known as the “President.”

·Some are wide enough for a car (like ours) to drive through.

·Redwood roots only go about 7 to 8 feet deep but can be spread out over 100 feet.

·These roots are intertwined with other redwoods, which allows them to remain stable even through strong storms.

·A redwood cone can produce 150 to 250 seeds, with each seed only the size of a tomato seed. That’s about the size of the head of a matchstick.

Like the redwood, our books also begin with a seed idea. God then waters that seed, and it continues to grow into something we could have hardly imagined. 

Redwoods are rugged trees. Some have deep grooves in the bark. Others have been struck by lightning. Many still stand after being partially burned by a fire, while heavy winds have blown over others. 

Kingdom writers are a rugged breed. Many of us have been battered by various life elements, yet we still stand tall with the Lord’s strength. 

“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” – 1 Peter 1:7 (NLT) 

Though Peter didn’t have trees in mind when he penned those words, this is what I call redwood faith! 

Within these redwood forests lie trees that have toppled over due to old age. I became a kid again as I jumped on one of these sleeping giants before walking perhaps fifty feet down its aged trunk. 

Many of these fallen trees even have new saplings from hollowed sections. These dead warriors still give life to young redwoods through their decomposed bark. 

There will be a time when you and I will ‘topple over’ due to old age, but we can continue giving life through our books and writings. Imagine God fertilizing the faith of those coming after us with the writings He inspires through us. 

“Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.” – Hebrews 13:7 (NLT)

Gazing up at a lone redwood tree can take your breath away by itself, but a forest of these natural skyscrapers is utterly spectacular. Similarly, a lone Christian writer can produce impressive stuff. Still, it’s a beautiful thing to be part of a forest of Kingdom writers with all of our diversity, styles, stories, and varying backgrounds.

We can lean on one another as the storms of life hit. Perhaps our writings will influence others to look up and give glory to our great God!

Reflection: As a Christian author, do you have others to lean on when the storms of life hit? We consider our Christian Book Academy like a redwood forest of Kingdom writers.

**Download our Kingdom Writers Bundle here to learn more about our online community and get access to resources to help you move forward in your call to write.

 

Taken from the Priestly Pens Bible Plan at You Version. 

Kingdom Writers Bundle / Amazon

Written by Shelly Hitz.

Day 2: Unless the Lord Writes the Book

 

“Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to His loved ones.”—Psalm 127:1-2 (NLT)

Our workaholic society tells us to push, strain, and strive to accomplish our goals. Many books have been written with this method. Ultimately, at what cost and benefit?

We also see many in the world today trying to protect all the work they’ve done in their own human strength. If we’re honest, we’ve all done this as if everything depends on us alone.

It’s interesting to note that Psalm 127 was written by Solomon, who also wrote most of Proverbs – many of which instruct us to work hard and not be lazy. In this Psalm, he’s addressing the issue of working without including God in the picture.

Whether it’s building houses or writing books, both are acceptable enterprises. They serve an important purpose. Our motives behind these things are equally important. Are we doing these things for our glory or God’s glory? In the end, this is why we call ourselves Kingdom writers who join God in building His Kingdom, not some monument unto ourselves.

God makes no distinctions between the sacred and secular. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…” (Emphasis mine)

God is interested in ALL our work, including all the words we write. Our books will have more substance when we partner with God, just as families will have more substance in their relationships when they build their homes with the Lord.

Houses are viewed as a symbol of status around the world. We can easily desire a huge, extravagant house to look good in the eyes of others. This can also happen with our books. We can create something that comes off as polished and shiny to seek status. We can place our security in the approval we receive from others, which is here today and gone tomorrow.

Why is ‘the work of the builders wasted?’ It’s wasted when we trade the eternal for the temporal.

We also see in this Psalm that God gives rest to His loved ones. Our work becomes a problem when it goes beyond the limits God has set for it. Those who undergo tough physical training understand the benefits of rest and recovery. As writers, our times of prayerful rest can create space for us to hear what God might have in mind for our books.

King Solomon tells us, “There is a time for everything,” including rest. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

We believe our best books will be birthed from a place of rest as we pause to seek the Lord. He’ll supply the substance rather than us trying to gut it out and quickly exhausting our strength.

Every book, article, or blog post of eternal value results from God’s grace when we include Him.

Reflection: Read John 15:1-11. What is the key to producing lasting fruit? Before sitting down for your next writing session, play a soft worship song and prayerfully invite the Lord into every aspect of your writing.

Taken from the Priestly Pens Bible Plan at You Version. 

Kingdom Writers Bundle / Amazon

Written by Shelly Hitz.

Day 1: An encouraging word for writers.

Day 1: Why Priestly Pens? Written by Shelly Hitz.

On numerous occasions throughout scripture, believers are referred to as “priests.” Here are a few notable references:  

“He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God His Father. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 1:6 NLT)

 “And You have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:10 NLT)

 “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9 NLT)

Before Jesus came onto the scene, only a select few were appointed as priests to offer sacrifices and perform other sacred duties. These priests devoted their lives to serving God in this way.

After Jesus became the ultimate and perfect sacrifice, He opened the door for anyone to become Kingdom priests and devote their lives completely to serving Him. For many of us, part of that service includes the words we write. It’s why we like referring to Christian writers as “priestly pens.” Imagine the Author of life partnering with you and me (the pens) to write words that impact others now and into eternity.

Why Do We Feel Compelled to Write?

As Kingdom writers, we have this compulsion to write words that honor our King. And this compelling is given to us by that same King,

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:13 NLT)

Who is working in us? God is working in us. Who gives us the desire to write? God gives us that desire. Who gives us the power to write words that will outlive us? God alone gives us that power. He’ll always supply the resources we need when we aim to please Him.

Being a priestly pen is part of the calling God has in mind for your life.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)

The Greek word for “good things” or works is ergon, which means “any product whatever, anything accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind.”

This includes our writing in various forms that God inspires in and through us!

Our lives have a fresh and unique calling after surrendering to Jesus. Our writing takes on a much deeper meaning.

God Uses It All

God doesn’t waste one thread of our lives. Everything – the good, bad, and ugly – is being redeemed as Romans 8:28 confirms:

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” (Emphasis mine)

Joni Eareckson Tada, an author and artist, was paralyzed in a swimming accident at age 17. She said, “If God seems to be writing an unusual story in your life, don’t resist His penmanship on the pages of your days.”

With all the twists, turns, and rabbit trails, our lives produce a thrilling adventure with Jesus as the central character woven into every fabric. Any good story has ups and downs, drama, plot twists, mystery, and action. God is directing it all. He’s the Writer of the script!

One of our favorite verses in scripture is Psalm 45:1 –

“Beautiful words stir my heart. I will recite a lovely poem about the king, for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.” (NLT)

As we’re yielded completely to the Lord, our lives become like pens in the hand of the Skillful Poet - the Author of life.

Think of all the “pens” God has used through the ages to write His grand story. How many people have been impacted by written words?

Friend, you are one of those pens. God wants to use your life to write words that live on as a legacy of His work in and through you.

Are you ready to allow God’s Spirit to flow through you like a fountain pen that’s been filled and refilled with fresh ink?

It’s our prayer that these three days will encourage you to continue being one of God’s chosen priestly pens!

Taken from the Priestly Pens Bible Plan at You Version. 

Kingdom Writers Bundle / Amazon

Fourth Principle of Creativity: We are, ourselves, creations. It means that we should continue creativity by being creative ourselves.

Studying a river, you will notice the ease it flows with. Flowing over and around obstacles as if they don’t exist. Why? They’re in the habit of creating. They do it without thought. A natural phenomenon which we admire.

In the week I saw three people, on inflatable mattresses, drifting off on a stream through a forest. Now and then you notice they bump against something and their course changes. It is so slight that it goes unnoticed by them as they follow the flow and enjoy the view. The treetops waving in the slight breeze and while enjoying the wonderous spectacle.

A fun way of relaxing and appreciating nature while you become one with yourself.

Likewise, our creativity should pour from us with an ease and comfort. It is not a strenuous task we have to think too much about.

Take, for instance, a dancing couple. Each step is perfectly coordinated to sync with each other because they have taken the time to practise. I believe the dancing gene was already within them. The flawless movements were already alive within their bones as they glide across the floor. The gentle sway of the hips, the graceful lifting of an arm or leg already brimming with energy earmarked their passion.

I envy people that can move like that. I love to dance. Alone, I can glide over the floor with relative ease, but when a man asks me to dance, I tense up. Why? Because I don’t know him, nor have I ever danced with him. Basically, it comes down to trust.

A dancing couple trust each other. When the woman turns away, she trust that the man will bring her back fluently and will bring her no harm. Likewise, a man will walk away in a sassy swagger because he knows the woman will not leave him on the dancefloor. They are both invested into that routine.

That is how we should be with our creativity. Like dance partners, we should trust in our ability to bring out the best in us. To trust ourselves is to allow devoted time for play/practise. Without adding time into the routine, your creativity will come to naught. Then you will lose the free flow of the river-like movements which promise to take you to a restful place.

The more we create, the more we trust the process. The more we create, the more we become invested into our creations. Like a couple that takes the floor, we trust each other. It becomes an investment we pour ourselves into and we continue to become better at our craft.

When your body, soul and spirit operate as one, your creativity flows with a river-like ease. Any obstacle you might encounter becomes an opportunity to grow, to change direction, to tweak and grow some more. A dynamic duo exists between our body and spirit, and we pour our very heart within its recesses to become bigger than us. So big that it becomes a legacy which last forever.

Your thoughts are always welcome, so add it in the comments.

Let the river flow.

©Lynelle Clark 2023

https://linktr.ee/AuthorLynelle

Links

The KreativPreneur Club

Book Release your Creativity (authorlynelleclark.blogspot.com)

Writer’s Journal for Beginners

Book Writer's Journal for Beginners (authorlynelleclark.blogspot.com)

PDF Writer's Journal for Beginners (authorlynelleclark.blogspot.com)

Maslow’s hierarchy download

Third Principle of Creativity

 

The third principle: When we open ourselves to our creativity, we open ourselves to the creator’s creativity within us and it expands to our lives.

In the presence of the Lord, we find answers. Because, in His presence, we open ourselves to God’s impartation. We allow Him to take centre stage and perform the creative miracle we are longing for.

I can honestly say that I have never gone into a fast-moving river, lay on my back, and enjoyed the ride. My analytical-realistic brain stops me at the edge as I watch the water pass.

I grew up next to the Orange River in the Northern Cape. It is an intimidating river that snakes through the Kalahari with a quiet stillness. From a far it is beautiful and inspiring but up close it shows a strength that warns you to step lightly. The riverbanks at some places so steep to keep you away and at other places you can step into the shallow waters as it laps at your feet. Even in the days when we were standing on the sandbanks inside the river, learning to swim, I always approached it with high regard. Its presence left a great impression on my younger soul. It still does.

Currently, it is in flood, its power sending shock waves through the community and awe in the rest of us. Then, it accumulates at the Augrabies Waterfall as a thunderous body of water into a very steep ravine. It is a sight to behold. I was there in 2021 when it was in flood as well. That mighty roar spoke to my spirit-man, and I cried. A mixture of awe, fear, and respect that you cannot explain to another person. The roar to deafening and the presence of God so real that you could feel the tantalizing power right into your bones.

Right at this moment, the thunderous roar of the Augrabies Falls is ten times that and has been closed for public viewing.

Can you imagine, Father God, inviting us into that powerful body of water to reveal His greatness to us? Yes, even His creativity is shown to us as He urges us to relax and ride it out with Him.

With that image in mind, it can be intimidating to approach God’s presence, but God wants us there. A place where we can trust Him. Rely on Him and experience God’s creative power to come to its fullness.

“God, are you for real?” I would ask, then I would see a smile spreading across His beautiful face as He nods. Yes, He is real.

When I was younger, I always accompanied my father and uncles on the small blue boat across the river. It was such an adventure, even though it was scary. But that small boat was sturdy, and the men understood the streams and rowed us safely across to where my grandfather’s farmland was. Today you can access the island by car much easier. Back then, it would take too long to go around reaching the island from the other side. Besides, you would miss the splendour of such a journey. So, we always took the boat, and my uncle’s dog swam next to us. Always reaching the riverbank first.

(My cousin replaced the oars with an engine which made the trip so much quicker.)

I remember the firm hold I had on the sides of that boat as my father and uncles rowed us across that brooding water. The water sliding underneath your fingers as sunrays danced on the surface. Capturing you into silence. The stretch of water so close you can taste its very existence.

For some reason, I always think of that river when I read about the rivers in the Bible. The mesmerising awe it inspires to lie back and enjoy the ride while God does His thing.

This is what I experience when I see point three of the basic principles of creativity. God invites us into the mighty river to show us what He has in store for us. The question is, will we trust Him enough?

Once we do, our creativity flows from our heart to our mind, to our hands and fingers. Our hands and fingers are only the tools God uses, but the creativity itself begins in our spirit. There, God the creator gives us images of what He wants to birth in us. It is only in a place of trusting and relaxing that we truly can experience God’s creativity to work through us.

Your thoughts are always welcome, so add it in the comments.

Let the river flow.

©Lynelle Clark 2022

https://linktr.ee/AuthorLynelle

The second basic principle: the in-dwelling creative force.

 

There is an underlying, in-dwelling creative force infusing all of life—including ourselves.

 

Our in-dwelling force has its own character and personality. It is filled with insight and knowledge. If you trust Him and follow Him, then you become part of a greater force. A creative force that has no copycat in its veins. It is original as your Source is.

We talk, of course, about the Holy Spirit that talks to your spirit. The interaction is a clear vibration of wisdom and insight into the deeper things of an Almighty God.

Your creativity is not human-born or man-made. It comes from your innermost being where no one can see it move. It is so deep within that no one else can hear its voice or see what it shows to you.

Only you are aware of this movement. Only you can react to it.

Once you tap into that force, creativity blossoms and you become a river of insight, providence, and healing.

Each one of us hears and listens differently. Therefore, our creativity manifest differently. This is what makes it so unique and beautiful. And most importantly, people recognise you. It becomes your voice within this busy world.

Shema.

Shema means to hear but also to listen. To incline your ear to the voice within and act on what you hear.

Shema can also mean obedience. When you are obedient to the inner force/voice, you act on what you hear. You become single-minded in your actions and your dreams receive a certain direction. Follow this. Follow that. Do it this way. Add this.

The more you listen, the more your inner force grows. The more your creativity shapes and forms to something tangible that others can enjoy and appreciate and buy.

This is the ultimate goal of your creativity. To inspire, to heal and provide.

It is the basics we all need according to the Maslow hierarchy of needs.

SELF-TRANSCENDENCE

Transcendence refers to one’s spirituality and relation to the universe and others. This need is specifically concerned with the act of helping others to self-actualise.

SELF-ACTUALISATION

This stage can only be met once all other needs are satisfied. Though any person can achieve self-actualisation, not all people will since progress may be halted by life’s challenges.

AESTHETIC NEEDS

This refers to the search for beauty, balance, and form. Maslow recognised that artists tended to focus on fulfilment of these needs.

COGNITIVE NEEDS

A person’s cognitive needs may be fulfilled by the pursuit of knowledge.

SELF-ESTEEM

A person’s self-esteem needs are often met as they achieve goals, master certain tasks, and receive recognition or respect for accomplishments.

BELONGING NEEDS

These include love and community and are met by family, friends, or romantic partners.

SAFETY NEEDS

Safety includes feelings of security and stability, living free of fear, and being safe from harm.

PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS

These essential needs include food, water, and shelter. Most people try to fulfil these needs before any others.

This where we are going. Once we tap into our inner force and creativity begins to flow we become whole.

Your thoughts are always welcome, so add your thoughts and ideas in the comments.

Let the river flow.

©Lynelle Clark 2022

LinkTree 

Links

Join The KreativPreneur Club and become part of the river. 

Introduction to Release your Creativity (authorlynelleclark.blogspot.com)

Book Release your Creativity (authorlynelleclark.blogspot.com)

PDF Release your Creativity Manual (authorlynelleclark.blogspot.com)

Writer’s Journal for Beginners

Book Writer's Journal for Beginners (authorlynelleclark.blogspot.com)

PDF Writer's Journal for Beginners (authorlynelleclark.blogspot.com)

 

Prrr... just like a cat.

 

This morning during my quiet time, these four words stood out, and I created an acronym with it.

Prrr... just like a cat.

Have you ever watched a cat?

If you did, you will notice he is very good at sleeping. He can sleep the entire day, stretched himself out, may eat some, just to curl up again and continue with his sleep. Then, when he does wake, he baths himself with careful intent. He doesn't miss a spot.

Prrr...

Pray (meditate):

Throughout the new testament, you will notice the times Jesus walked away from the crowd, or stood up early to speak with his Father.

He wasn't swept away by the crowds, or social media. No, he was mindful of spending his time in conversation with his source. This is the reason he always seemed in control of every situation.

Prayer leads to the first r... it is rest:

Rest means to take a step back and make time for the things that are important to us.

We all have deadlines we have to make, but if we do not schedule time to rest, it will be detrimental to our health.

This leads us to the second r... reflecting.

Reflecting results from rest. As we take a time out, we realize what is important to us, make adjustments and walk with greater ease through our day. We become mindful of the smaller things and chuck out the big things.

The next r... results from reflection, and that is recreation.

Recreation comes through play, sing, paint, dance, having fun, exercise, etc. It brings us closer to the place of creativity where we found the outlet.

Recreation that is truly restorative always creates a clear sense of well-being and centeredness, both physically and spiritually. Recreation, like the word implies, re-creates in us a heart for God that is expressed by a sincere appreciation and gratefulness.

Joey O'Connor. The Longing: Embracing the Deepest Truth of Who You Are.

This is a good way of reminding ourselves to become still. It is from this place that our creativity blossom into something beautiful.

PRRR STAND FOR

P - Pray (Mediate)

R - Rest

R - Reflecting

R - Recreation

There are days I am so thinly spread that I neglect certain things. I trust you can understand this as well.

Therefore, it is so important to take the time to pray, rest, reflect and be recreational.

Each step brings you closer to the words and colours stored in your mind and you become a colourful array of shapes and sounds, fulfilling your purpose.

I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH THESE QUESTIONS:

What re-creates your heart and soul?

What playful activities, hobbies, and interests do you immerse yourself in to live out a childlike faith?

How is your time best spent allowing the re-creative work of God to refresh and remind you of who you are?

Do become part of the discussion and jou the club on Facebook. 

Creativity is the natural order of life. Life is energy: pure creative energy.

Basic Principles of Creativity

There are ten basic principles that Julia Cameron mentioned in her book, The Artist’s Way.

I will discuss each one in a separate post to help us better understand what it means to be a creative being.

We all are aware that we have the same Godly DNA within our veins. How we use it is up to us. When I first learned about this, I was blown away by the sheer volume of who I am in the bigger scheme of things.

Your thoughts are always welcome and maybe you can add to the ideas.

1. Creativity is the natural order of life. Life is energy: pure creative energy.

The term ‘creative energy’ is quite enigmatic and is difficult to put your finger on, as it is a term that means different things to different people. Creative work, such as coming up with interesting ideas and concepts, requires more than just time and dedication. An element of creative energy is needed to propel the creative thought processes.

Imagination and innovation are two key components of creative energy and creative thinking. Creative energy is not an external force that can be captured. It is highly individualised and comes from within.

Real Business UK, by Joshua Stanley, April 19, 2021

In my search to understand what is creative energy, I had to scout the Internet and found an array of answers. From energy power, we need to give us electricity to God working through us to reach our highest of good.

What I deduce from this is that creative energy is a life entity that gives us power. And, here is the best part: it comes from within.

Therefore, it is so important to have a relationship with God as our Superpower. If we are not plugged in to our Source, we are unable to create with ease. We cannot create by ourselves. We can doodle and draw some lines or even bake a cake, or do the best in accounting. But to really be an energy power, we should stay connected.

How cool is that?

Creativity comes naturally to us all. As a child, with no formal training, we could draw the moment we received a pencil in our hand. We learn to bang on the tupperware tub or pot and made ‘music’, we baked cookies from mud... etc.

Creativity is ingrained within our very DNA.

Connect creativity with our Source and we have pure creative energy. Then the banging becomes beautiful notes of music that fills the air. That mud cake turns into a chocolate lava cake that people drools over. Your pen writes a perfect sentence, chapter, or book.

The more we tap in, the more we become a conduit of creative energy that touches those around us, and we serve others through our chosen path.

We are resourceful, talented, shimmering with energy. But it all begins within. The more time we spend with the page, or blank canvas, the more fluent it becomes. The easier it flows.

New Product: Writer's Journal for Beginners.

For the last month, I am working on all the incomplete projects lying on my laptop. There are quite a few of them.

One of them is the Writer's Journal for Beginners.

It was actually published in 2020, but after taking it up early in this year, I noticed a few holes within the book. So, in between Christmas and judging and, of course, load shedding, I finally completed it. Here are a few pages of the final product. It will be available as a digital download and in hard copy. Since my printer will only be back in January 2023, the hard copy must wait... Big Smile. (She needs the rest. I don't think we understand the pressure printers have. And when they excel, then everybody wants their attention now. Odette, I appreciate you and love you.) The digital download will be R35. It can be printed and put into a binder. I have added enough empty pages to help with your big idea, but more pages can be added as your story grows.

The hard copy is an A4 book, spiral binding and has 86 pages. I will know the price once I have an updated quote.

Buy

If interested in the digital download, send me an email at info@thekreativpreneur.co.za then I will forward the bank details. Once I received the proof of purchase, I will send the PDF.

#creativewriting #WritersJournal #aspiringwriters #journalingcommunity

Creativity 101: Your spirit

As we dig deeper within, we realize how complex we really are. There is a world within us that is dormant until it the lid has been removed.

Our body is the vessel that carries us from point A to B. We must maintain this vessel to the best of our knowledge to live a long and healthy life.

Our mind is the element that gives us personality. It helps us to cope, to be strong, to learn, and to excel. It is from this place we love, hate, get angry, are selfish, are jealous… etc. Each of these attributes opens our mind to other things which can either bind us or help us move forward. Our mind can also block us because of our experiences, our culture, and connections. It can falter our core beliefs and limit us to where we can’t see past our troubles. Our mind is susceptible and if we do not guard our mind, we will become fearful, reckless, or even dangerous to the people around us.

But we have a build-in radar that can help us cope and stay on course. But we must unlock it first. Take note: we must do it. God will not flick a magical wand above our heads and do it for us. No, we must unlock it by submitting our entire being to Him. The more we open, the greater the connection and fresher the anointing.

We are all born with a spirit. The spirit needs to be nurtured, taught, and strengthened with a greater power than ourselves. It must learn how to listen, talk, walk, and do. As a Christian, we have a manual that helps us to stay on course. It is called the Bible. Everything within that book is there to teach us. It teaches us the fundamentals of life and how to stay on track. If we listen, we enjoy the fruit of it. If not, we suffer the consequences. We are familiar with that feeling when our prayers don’t pass the ceiling. It is then that we should do introspection and ask the Holy Spirit to show us the reason.

As a Christian, I believe that the Holy Spirit is that Greater Power and once my spirit and God’s Spirit connect, my spirit blossoms. With the connection comes training. I must learn how to pray, read my Bible every day to equip my spirit, do warfare, and sing praises to the Almighty Father. Through obedience and submitting, I become less and He more.

Through this connection, my creativity or talents are triggered and open a better world. If it stays dormant, it will reach for anything else to hold on to. Like a giant octopus, it will latch on and drink but remain hungry. These connections can be fatal or lead you on the wrong path. Others can bring enlightenment, but I believe it is only through the Holy Spirit that we truly can be free.

Our spirit is a living being that always needs nourishment. Sustenance to feed from and grow. As we grow stronger, we experience the freedom to sing, create, make a joyful noise, and walk in authority on earth. Our mind becomes subject to our spirit because it becomes the controller, teacher, and initiator of our life. Now we don’t act from our hurt or fears, but we act from a place of safety. Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.

Our creativity is the incubator with all the potential the Father has for us. If it is blocked, we struggle to create. Words falter, colours remain dark, joy is momentary, faith is dwindling, and hope is neatly packed away. We struggle to find our rhythm; our inner metronome is out of whack, and we feel trapped. This is a dangerous place to be.

Our very DNA is to create, but through the lies we perceive as truth, we believe we can’t do this. We tell ourselves that we are useless or tap into the lie that this is all for nothing. If we believe this, we remain stuck. Once we look it in the eye and deal with it, we become open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

This open connection is vital to our creativity. Without it, we will remain where we are. Clueless, frightened, poor in spirit and in mind, disillusioned, and helpless. But that is not where the Father wants us. If we stay in that place, our vessel stays dormant. We exist but not live.

To bring back the joy and the hope, we must establish that connection and stay connected. In the connection with our Source, we can be free to create. Through creating, we can create a better life. Not only for ourselves, but for every person God leads us to.

 

Creativity 101: Your mind.

 

I wrote to block out my reality.

I wrote to block out all the anger and pain.

I wrote of lost dreams and empty promises all in fiction form to create a happy ending.

I wrote 22 books during that time.

Our mind is a powerful tool.

A tool that can propel us forward or set us in park mode for a long time. Unless we do something about it.

Our mind is controlled by our experiences, cultural surroundings, and emotions. Even the people we hang out with has an effect. This is the reason we should be wary with who we associate.

Our mind is like a sponge that takes everything in, then compartmentalized them into folders. Some to use now, others to use later. And others to use as our momentum to move or stop.

The more you fill it with good, positive things, the more you will grow. Those things are like vitamins to your body.

To be a whole person, you must guard your heart and mind. To be effective in the world.

No matter the bad that has happened in the past, you can change the bad in the good and the ugly in the best by building and growing.

Once you stop...you die.

Back then, I knew my artistic side needed an outlet which spilled over on paper. I was astonished and flabbergasted at the same time. Even ten years later, I still have the thrill of creating something from the words in my mind.

What do you do to feed your mind?

With what do you feed it?

How can you benefit from investing in the good to excel?

#ReleaseYourCreativity #creativity101