God Created...

Beginning this Sunday, June 1st, the Gallery @ Common Grounds will host a ten week exhibit titled "God Created..." and all the art is submitted by the kids of Treasure Park.

This exhibit will be a progressive exhibit and by that I mean that we'll start off with around ten pieces of art work. Then more pieces can be added as the weeks go by. If your Treasure Park child has a drawing, painting, poem, collage or other wall hang-able art that has the theme of "God Created...", please contact me - deAnn - at LWCC. If you have questions, don't hesitate to email me or call me (contact info on the right hand sidebar).

We look forward to seeing the creativity that God placed in our kids as their amazing art pieces beautifully decorate our coffee bar, Common Grounds. Please take time to interact with their work and may you be blessed by their creativity.

Play By Heart

Have you ever played a musical instrument, maybe in junior or senior high? Marching band, even? Come one, admit it! You were in the Marching Band weren't you? (Confession: I was. And it was cool.)

If someone gave you that particular instrument today, would you be able to pick it up and play it like you once have?

When I was a little girl, my hippie mom dabbled on the guitar and I loved to hear her strum "Country Roads, Take Me Home" or "Leaving On A Jet Plane" - both hits by John Denver. If I should by chance hear either of those songs today, I'm immediately ushered back to the mid 1970's, wearing the tie-dyed T-shirt "dress" my aunt Jill made me. Music is awesome that way. I admired my mom so much that I wanted to play the guitar. And I did. I learned how to play "Grandma's Feather Bed" by John Denver...remember that one?

A little later in life, (as a jr.hi kid) I wanted to play in the school band. We didn't have money to purchase an instrument so my mom checked with the band director and they had an old tenor saxophone laying around and offered it to me. That thing was bigger than I was! But I learned to play and I fell in love with it. It was a good instrument for me, I had (well, still have) a horrifying singing voice - with the sax, I didn't have to sing! The world rejoiced!

I entered high school and with that came marching band. I was so uncoordinated - trying to play AND count my steps at the same time! (Another confession: most of the time, I pretended to play while marching because I would rather stay in formation!) Then we moved to a new school and they didn't have a saxophone for me. That was the end of my instrumental journey.

About six years ago, a friend of mine was selling his alto saxophone for a drop dead price. I had to have it! I brought it home and waited for a day when the house was empty. I was surprised at how hard it was to make a sound, other than sounding like the squeal of a duck in distress. I figured playing an instrument was like riding a bike. Just hop on and you are rolling. Yeah, that wasn't the case.

I purchased a "Playing the Sax for Dummies" book and some of it came back, s l o w l y. Then I picked up a song book with tunes I know from church. One was really simple, only a few notes (chords? I don't know the lingo) - it is "I Love You Lord." I practiced and practiced that one song and got to the place where I could play it from memory. Play by heart. Now I know what that means...

One day, after my family left the house to run errands, I pulled out my alto sax and played "I Love You Lord" over and over...as I closed my eyes and gently blew air over the reed, pressing the right pads with my fingers - that song came from my heart - and it was the most amazing worship experience I've ever had. I felt God's smile at me as I sang to Him through the tones of my instrument. His presence was intimately profound. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I continued to play "I Love You Lord" until I couldn't play any longer because I broke down and sobbed right there in His embrace.

Can I play the saxophone? No, not really. Gordon or Chris won't be asking me to join the worship team, that's for sure. But can I play for fun, or to connect with Jesus? Absolutely. Of all the times I've ever played, even in school when I was good at it, meeting with Him through a few well placed notes that I play by heart - that has the most meaning. To me, anyhow. And I believe it means a lot to Him as well.

Spend some time using your creativity, being mindful of your Creator ~ and meet with Him as you play by heart. Grace & Peace...

That Annoying Little Voice

Do you ever have these conversations in your head?

My thought: Today I am going to get my paints out and whip up an amazing one of a kind painting that will stun even our pet puffer fish.

That annoying little voice: Who are you kidding? You bought all those paints and brushes and look – they collect dust. You can’t paint anyhow. Why did you waste all that money on painting supplies? You’re a dork.

My thought: Okay, an “amazing one of a kind painting” is a bit overkill. I know I’ve not had any real experience with painting,...well, except for slathering a variety of colors on every interior wall of my house. But I feel something creative is brewing inside me…

That annoying little voice: The only thing brewing is the need to get the oil changed in your car. Oh –by the way, you’re out of postage stamps and the post office closes in 36 minutes. You better get going. Hurry! Come on! Fast!

My thought: Aaarghh!!! Okay, okay! Tomorrow. I’ll paint tomorrow…now, where are my car keys?

If you are interested in reading about my first “amazing one of a kind” painting (struggle), click here for a good laugh…

Okay, so never give in to that annoying little voice and know that it’s not God’s voice. No, God is the gentle and encouraging voice - He longs for you to use your creativity as a way to connect with Him.

Go into the wild blue yonder and discover the artist within you…

Article Worth Reading

An artist friend sent me the link for this post from a blog site called "Stuff Christians Like" and I am encouraged by it. I'm also challenged by it - to live into the creativity God's placed in me instead of denying it every 46 seconds by saying "I can't."

Check out the post: Stuff Christians Like, "#185 Good Enough For The Church (God's love letter to artists)"

Can't Deny It

First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don't see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss.
Genesis 1:1-2 from The Message

There you have it. Creativity was built in from the get go. We can't help but be creative. The question is how do we live in to it? With our busy lives, agendas, schedules, to do lists - not to mention family time, friend time, pet time - oh and don't forget about our jobs, tending to laundry, dishes, paying bills, washing the car, pulling weeds and cleaning the fish tank. Where the heck do we have time to be creative???

Using our built in creativity doesn't necessarily mean that we devote oodles of time to an oil painting or practicing a musical instrument. We have our daily creativity in full action mode every cotton picken day... how to make last night's left overs taste new & exciting for tonight's dinner? You have to get your kids to their sporting events so you devise a plan to get everyone where they need to be at the time they are to be there - and pick up food for them along the way. That takes creative planning! How about rearranging your living room furniture or choosing the right location in your garden for flowers and shrubs you just purchased. Yes, all involve your ingenious creativity.

See, you are more creative than you thought...

As you lay in bed tonight, take a moment and think over your day. Was there problem solving? Trouble shooting? Where were you creative but haven't really thought of it that way?

So no need to fear the "C" word. You have it. You use it. And it was given to you before time existed. Own it. See what happens. It's possible you could live a more vibrant life as you allow more and more of your creativity to shine! What an adventure!

Art as Prayer

Often when I'm journaling, words can't seem to accurately describe what's going on in my heart. I try to find words that could express what I'm feeling but they are left unfound. In these moments, I grab my sketch book and draw what I am sensing, how I'm feeling, or the prayer that is lodged in my soul and needs to be released. Onto the page it goes - not as letters strung together as words, but as lines and shapes from the lead of my dull #2 pencil. Usually I don't know what image will form, I just place the lead on the rough surface of paper and and begin "doodling." Before I know it a blank sheet fills with a sketch which becomes an extension of my prayer - it's a visual prayer. These are very powerful moments for me and bring a rich dimension to my journey with Jesus.

God is the Master Artist ~ I am so not a master artist. I'm just a child of God who uses the creativity that is God given to express the depths of the soul. And it feels awesome. Art is very much part of my prayer life. In fact, if you are like me, I've learned to purchase journals with no lines so when the urge to draw strikes, I'm ready. But I also love my big artist's sketch pad too. Either one works for me.

Have you experienced using your creativity in your prayer life or quiet times with the Lord? If you are so willing, please share your experience as a "Comment" - you will find the link at the end of this post.

Enjoy creating in the presence of our Creator.

the Gallery @ Common Grounds

The current gallery exhibit at Living Word Community Church, "Going Global," has only a few more weeks left. If you haven't taken time to check out the amazing photographs of Keith Trepanier, Chris Martin, Jack Dyson and Tony Schlies - stop in to see them. They feature beautifully captured stories behind the faces and places of Guatemala, India and Ethiopia.

As a companion to the exhibit, there is a booklet called "the Heart behind the Art" which shares the stories of the artists' journey as they traveled into these countries and what inspired them to take the shots displayed. You can find this booklet at Common Grounds coffee bar of LW.

Next Exhibit @ the Gallery...

"God Created" is the theme for the June-August exhibit and will consist entirely of art created by the kids in our Treasure Park ministry. We are looking for participants up through the 6th grade to express their interpretation of what/how "God Created." Their art can be photographs of a bug, for instance - or a drawing, painting, collage, finger painting, ext., and must be in a frame and able to be wall hung.

All art will need to be submitted by the week of May 19th. See the gallery's web page for information. Contact deAnn Roe at 848-4293 x126 with questions.

Local Writing Events

There are two writing related events I want to point out - I read these in the local Community Courier, the East York Edition. Also our own Women's writing group is listed below as well.

Memoir-Writing Workshop
Thursday, May 8 at 6:30 PM at the Kaltrider-Benfer Library at 147 S. Charles Street in Red Lion. Pre-registration is required, call 244-2032 to sign up. This workshop is free of charge and will be presented by Author Lori Jakiela. "Writing From Your Own Experience" will teach participants how to turn their memories into memoirs. (This sounds really cool! I wish I could attend but being a mom of two kids in lacrosse, my schedule is packed this week.)

Novelist Will Visit Martin Library
Thursday, May 8 at 7:00 PM at the Martin Library at 159 E. Market Street in York.
Novelist Bob Fisher will present "The Unexpected Discoveries of Writing." For more information call 846-5300, ext. 279 or visit the York Libraries web site.

Reflective Souls ~ Writing for Women
Thursday, May 8 at 6:30 PM at Living Word Community Church
This month's gathering will be led by Ellie Smith. Bring your favorite writing utensil, notebook and the desire to write! We'll meet in the Sonshine Kids room of Treasure Park (down the hall behind the Chapel).

you are needed

Author and poet David Whyte was interviewed by the Library of Congress. He was asked the question, among others, "where do you see the movement in art at this moment in time?"

His response was:

Generally it’s one of atomization and unraveling on the surface. All of the works of art that are feted by the mainstream… the art that is celebrated by the mainstream are works of brutality and atomization and unraveling… but actually in the midst of that, there is a new form of integrative art that is appearing from underneath it… and I would say that we are just at the beginning of that of that period. A very rich/difficult time to live in. A time when artists and poets and writers are needed to speak to the everlasting and eternal foundations of human belonging.

Because it's so powerful, I will re-quote the last line, "A time when artists and poets and writers are needed to speak to the everlasting and eternal foundations of human belonging."

Think about that. How does this quote speak to you? How do you sense God speaking to you about your creativity?

You are needed. Your "voice," (what ever creative genre you prefer), is needed. Let's speak up.

Create Without Fear

I love the book by Brenda Ueland, "If You Want To Write." She encourages us to work at our writing or whatever creative thing we like to do. Our culture tells us that duty comes first. But I'm exploring Brenda's thoughts as her words penetrate my heart and make a home in my soul. She says:

"Duty should be a by-product. Writing, the creative effort, the use of imagination, should come first, at least for some part of everyday of yourlife. It is a wonderful blessing if you will use it. You will become a happier, more enlightened, alive, impassioned, light-hearted and generous to every body else. Even your health will improve. Colds will disappear and all the other ailments of discouragement and boredom."

Sometimes I feel the creative urge and it's intense. Know what I mean? You desire to create something, anything, but a force holds you back. Stuff like this enters your thoughts: It's not important - you have other things that demand your time!

This is silly, but I have a pile of canvases of all sizes leaning against a wall in my bedroom. I've begun quite a nice collection of colorful acrylic paints and all kinds of brushes too. It's all there. Waiting for me. Calling to me. I ignore it. WHY? What's holding me back? Well, maybe the fact that I've never painted outside of elementary school???? What if my painting is horrible? What if people laugh? What if I laugh? Really, I have to ask myself, what would be so bad about that?

Then, if I listen carefully, I hear in the back of my mind a tiny quiet voice, "Create. Just sit before the canvas. Allow Me to move your hands and guide your colors. It will be beautiful, I promise. Relax. Leave your fear aside and create because you are My creation."

Okay, despite the scariness, what creative genre are you drawn too? Or maybe you have, say - painted, but it's been some time because life got busy. Now the brushes are covered with dust and the canvases have yellowed and dried out. Do you hear God's voice calling you to meet with Him through your creativity? Listen and see where He takes you...

Enjoy the journey ~ peace

Poetry Reading

I'm learing to appreciate poetry for all its beauty and passion. Check out this video on YouTube of the U.S. Poet Laureate (2004-2006) Ted Kooser. It's wonderful and Ted is quite funny and entertaining! It's rather long but you can listen to a couple poems at a time.

I hope you enjoy this and may become inspired to write, recite or read poetry.
grace & peace...