Let Them Create

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**

    Creativity. There are so many forms. Some involve color and some no color. Some are seen and others unseen. Other forms demand the use of multiple senses and some only one sense. Some creativity we deem more valuable than others. Sometimes creativity is a linear and clean process and sometimes it looks like a mess with no purpose.

    Spending some time with God one evening He encouraged me to “Let Luke create.” Luke is my (almost) four year old son. The past week he “baked” a cake that included water, pico de gallo, raspberries, BBQ chips and apples. We of course pretended to eat it and I found myself resisting it so many ways. First, get past the ingredients, then the potential mess, and then the unique smell and the seeming endlessness of wanting to bake again and again.

    As I sat with God praying over something that had nothing to do with creativity, He reminded of what it is like to have creativity squelched. It was not an easy reminder and these words followed, “Let Luke create.” They still hit me hard and I hope I will let him create even if it does not make sense or potentially messes up my “tidy” (used loosely) life.

    Also, the secondary word to me was, “Let yourself create.” So my hope and prayer is that you would allow creativity, imagination and play into your life, both your life and the life of your children.

**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**

God Doesn't Mess Up

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**

    God did not mess up. God did not mess up when He created you. He does not make mistakes.

    The little quirks that are part of you and the features He has given you are not by mistake.
The vision of ourselves becomes skewed early in life. God is often wooing us back to see ourselves as He created us and to value who He created.

    This is not a narcissistic ego boost, but words that are meant to encourage you to see the Creator as perfect, as intentional and as incredibly loving. He created you as He desired and He does not make mistakes.

    When you think about the creativity, intention and love of God as He created you, what happens?
    Do you struggle to believe or find yourself arguing with God? Or rather are you at rest, at rest in the arms of a sovereign and loving God?

    Be at rest today in the truth of who God is and His great creativity of you.

Have more that two minutes?: Read and meditate on Psalm 139 and God’s beautiful creation and pursuit of your heart and life.

**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**

Walk Forward

**Before you begin reading, sit down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**

    Swinging. We often find ourselves on the pendulum swing of narcissism (thinking we have everything to offer) and nihilism (thinking we have nothing significant to offer). This pendelum swing is often the result of comparing ourselves to others. We want to be ourselves yet we have been told in subtle and not so subtle ways that how we’re created isn’t enough. We’ve been told in direct and indirect ways that something is wrong with us or that maybe we’d be better off if we were more like “her” (whoever “her” is). Sometimes we make ourselves feel better by comparing ourselves to someone we think we are "better than". We swing back and forth, back and forth. Tired of swinging?
    What if our focus was on God, the freedom he brings, the creativity in which he made us and seeking to live that out? What if our focus was on relationship with God, who made us uniquely and for His purposes?  Focusing on God slows down the swing. It slows down the swing and allows us to move forward. How can you focus on God and walk forward rather than swing?

**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**

Have more than two minutes? Read and meditate on the truth of Psalm 139.

Prayer and Creativity

**Before you begin reading, sit down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**

Creativity. One thing that parenting has caused me to pray for is creativity. I never thought that would be my prayer, at least in the sense that it has been. I thought a prayer for creativity might be exclusively for crafts or games, playing make-believe or tea parties. I never thought about asking for creativity in problem solving, or guidance in discipline. God is the master of creativity.  Why wouldn't I ask Him? Creativity has become a regular prayer of mine as I seek God in raising my children. That and patience of course.

**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**