Friday, August 28, 2009

Finding Divine Inspiration

There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost. ~Martha Graham

I am writing this from one of my favourite Cafés on Hunter Street – Black Honey...Check it out if you are ever in town (they have the best scones...coffee is fair trade and good also). My modem has been down for a while (far too long!!) and I have been wanting to blog, but I have been unable to get online for any significant amount of time – thus, I am writing this in Microsoft Word. I am doing what others in my situation do: get creative and make it work through other means.

That being said, I wanted to pass on a good book that some of you may be interested in. Actually, I believe that this book would be a benefit to anybody from the artist-types to leaders and parents. The book is J. Scott McElroy’s Finding Divine Inspiration-Working with the Holy Spirit in Your Creativity.



Mr. McElroy takes us through the concept of partnering with the Holy Spirit in our endeavour to create...whatever “creating” we are called to engage in. He gives the reader practical advice and examples throughout history of partnering with the Holy Spirit and how collaboration has impacted the individual and society. He includes interviews with Thomas Blackshear and Peter Furler among others, and their experiences in deliberately collaborating with the Holy Spirit, which I found very insightful and even familiar to my own experience. Mr. McElroy emphasizes the importance of developing a listening lifestyle. Working with our Creator in our life calling is an exciting, fulfilling journey that can sometimes be surprising, but always meaningful.

We definitely have a part to do in finding divine inspiration. We apply ourselves, develop our skills, grow in our craft. We turn our wills toward Him, discipline ourselves to practice a listening lifestyle and obey what He speaks to us. We stand against the attacks of the enemy and move forward in faith. And God meets us as we move toward Him. He provides the direction on what to do and how to do it. He inspires us with Holy Spirit light and revelation. He opens the doors of opportunity and brings us to the right places in the right timing. And He brings the anointing on the message that gives the work the impact He wants. ~J. Scott McElroy

Thursday, August 27, 2009

God Is Faithful

This morning my King led me to 1 Corinthians (1-9) and this is what it says:

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge—because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
~
The bold and the italics are mine. These words are what stood out to me.
~
The words "together with all those everywhere" - the community of believers all over this globe, my brothers and sisters in Christ! We have been "enriched" - isn't that a great word?!

'Enriched' is defined in Merriam-Webster's dictionary as:

: to make rich or richer esp. by the addition or increase of some desirable quality, attribute, or ingredient : as a: to add beauty to : adorn b: to enhance the taste of c: to make (a soil) more fertile d: to improve the nutritive value of (a food) by adding nutrients (as vitamins or amino acids) and especially by restoring part of the nutrients lost in processing e: to process so as to add or increase the proportion of a desirable ingredient

And we have been "enriched in every way"! That's encouraging! And this is an enriching beyond the natural, it spans into the spiritual, that area that was a mystery, but because of Jesus Christ, we are able to speak of this mystery and know Him. It is because of God's calling us to Him and us answering His call that He works in us, granting us all that we need, giftings included, to stand for Him, to Glorify His name, to honour Him to the end...to the end...of our lives on this earth or until His return.

Though many of us believe we are living in the last days, the skeptic and the unprepared say that every generation has been claiming to be in the "last days". In WWI, in WWII, the turn of the century, 9-11...the end of the world has come. Some gathered in groups in preparation for Jesus' Glorious return...and when He didn't show up, some committed suicide, others lost faith, others were humbled into a deeper walk with Him. But we know, regardless, that every day is one day closer to His coming again and that He will keep us strong to the end - today, tomorrow, whenever...God is faithful.

Remember: God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ, is faithful.
Hold on to this truth this day and always and be encouraged by it...He is faithful.

Repost-I have received many searches for God Is Faithful as of late, so I thought I would share it again. Smiles and blessings to each of you!~mp:)

Friday, August 14, 2009

Repost-Stealing from my other blog

In my 'splorin' of the net, I came across a great thinker that I have encountered before. I love how she thinks and breaks concerns down and works though them. She is hopeful and inspired(ing)...and seemingly cheerful a large majority of the time (not that that is a bad thing, just a drag when you are trying to do the cheerful thing, but you keep coming up against the anti-cheerful fiend that leaves you feeling more apathetic than anything...whatever...)

Anyhow, I noticed that with this person and with a few other bloggers, we have hit this wall of thickness. Picture this: you are running, the day may be sunny or cloudy, it doesn't matter, you are still running - keeping a good pace and then you hit this wall of resistance; your running is now more like the type of feeling you would have running in waist deep water. You can no longer keep the pace and you are starting to wonder if you should stop.

Now, as I am writing this, I realize that if I have hit a "wall of water" that would slow my running, in order to maintain any pace, I need to change tactics and perhaps swim. (Duh...this is partly why I write, so I can see my thinking!)

Okay, that being discovered, I guess I need to reframe a few things.

Right now, like I alluded to in the past, I feel like I am in serious transition. My world is just bizarre. Period. I want to get back to the quiet assurance of the presence of my King...time to step back and refocus. I need to somehow throw off that which hinders me and swim for now...or perhaps I need to just change my pace and be refreshed...perhaps I need to wash off the sweat and dirt and come out of the water refreshed and clean, ready to take on the trail again...perhaps...

Monday, August 3, 2009

The Beauty of Humanity

The beauty of humanity is the reality that we live. We live out of self-indulgence and yet the One who has the power to return us to less than dust will forgive us, returning us to a right relationship with Him. This is beautiful because we are being restored to all that we were meant to be. For without the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the self-indulgence would lead us to death without there being any hope. Now, even the most vile of us can receive forgiveness and be restored to eternal life with God. Some might consider that unfair; however, what people tend to forget is that a sin is a sin, from lying to murder, it is all a blight of hideousness in the eyes of God. Everyone falls short of the Glory of God - everyone! The mercy afforded us by God's grace saves our sorry souls from a fate of despair that no words can justifiably describe. It is hell. The beauty of humanity is the reality that we live...because Jesus Christ died for us.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

You..A Hero

The camp (Olympia) my kids go to focuses on The Hero's Journey. It incorporates the attitude of a hero into every aspect of the camp experience, building up every camper, drawing out the best in each of them, and encouraging them to take it to the next level.

This focus is a wonderful example of true leadership and teamwork. It is what, I think, Christians should be focused on also. Building up, drawing out, encouraging beyond. Can you imagine all your brothers and sisters in Christ doing these things? What would that look like in your community?

Jesus calls us to follow Him. He is constantly building us up - which usually means tearing down the negative in order to build up a lasting presence. And drawing us out...He calls us out to be the men and women of God we were meant to be, shedding old habits and realizing who we are in Him. Jesus also challenges us to take it to the next "level." It is challenging -taking us out of our comfort zone into true Life. But, He will not leave us incomplete.

This journey of transformation is so personal, yet it is also communal and universal. We cannot avoid it because we were made for relationship...relationship with God, our Maker, and relationship with each other.

The heart-set of a hero, according to Olympia, includes these attributes:
  • self-awareness
  • physically relaxed
  • focused
  • self-confident
  • persistent
  • self-motivated
  • self-disciplined
  • courageous
  • caring
  • forgiving
  • team player
  • supportive
  • co-operative
  • empathetic listener
  • non-judgemental
  • compassionate
  • community centered
  • responsible
  • dependable
  • patient
  • tolerant
  • respectful
  • honest
  • self-actualizing

And I would add - Christ focused - because though this list is great, without Jesus, it is incomplete.

A hero. You. Building up, drawing out, encouraging beyond. Walking with Christ through this grand love story of life...and you...you take your place in this story with all the attributes of a true hero and more, with the love and truth of Jesus Christ.

Well, are you up to it? I know you can do it...because with Christ...all things are possible!

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They Did Not Realize

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. ~John 21:4