The mother of invention

I am reminded of the power blackouts and load shedding we faced in South Africa a few years ago. I recall people I knew doing research into alternate sources of energy for powering their homes, now that the comfort of electricity was turned off for a number of hours per day. Amongst my family it was a subject of much debate as to how else we could sustain our energy needs - by changing from electricity to gas, by using solar, wind or battery powered devices as alternate means of creating energy. Overall, they were different, lifestyle altering times. 

We found ourselves enjoying the candle lit dinners, the gas or paraffin lighting providing a unique urban camping ambiance. The children, of course, thought it was cool! But apart from the adventure and a slightly changed lifestyle and cooking methods, I realized that had we not had the experience of a more extreme lifestyle, we probably would never have thought about alternatives, taking our municipal electricity supply for granted. I realize that adversity forces us to look for solutions. Or it should do so. 

Adversity is not nice. I am acutely aware that for the vast majority of the planet's population, such talk is in itself a luxury. Apart from the idea of the world's rich sowing generously into the lives and circumstances of the poor, I don't propose that I have all the answers for those facing physical adversity daily.  But let us hear something of God's heart behind adversity...


In James is says: "Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds - knowing that the trying of your faith works patience".  When we go through testing times, something else is happening to us, apart from the hardship we feel.  God is working patience or perseverance into us - He's molding our character.  We have to let patience have it's work, so that we may be "perfect and entire, lacking nothing"!  It's like a runner - they have to let perseverance develop within them, for as they prepare to race, they aim at being perfect, lacking nothing that would hold them back from doing their best.


As artists, we want excellent results - or so we should (I always maintain that the level of skill and anointing enables a greater impact of the message).  Yet to obtain this level, we must expect our faith to be tested, our patience to be pushed to the limit.  "Adversity if the mother of invention".  If you are struggling in any way, know that something greater is at work, something not actually bad, but something necessary because it is forging a more excellent result.  If you want to represent God's Glory to a dying world, it doesn't come cheap.  However, it is unique, incomparable.  


If you are in any way facing adversity - maybe battling to break through in your creativity - know that as you push through and find a solution, your faith levels will soar, as well as your joy! DO NOT GIVE UP!  Don't own the hardship.  Step back, sleep on it, reassess the situation from another vantage point, and be open to God giving you the solution.  Be bold and act on this.  Follow through with what you have - a new design, a new strategy, a new composition.  Count it all as pure joy!

Be encouraged!

Well, it's been a bit long since the previous post!  Been a bit hectic with other things.  On the creative front....I'm so aware that God has His hand on us and our creativity.  While at a church prayer meeting a few weeks back, God was really emphasizing His plans for us in the area of creativity.  We sometimes forget that He has spoken into this so often.  This shouldn't surprise us as He is The Creator, is a Creative God and watches over what He has created. During the meeting there were words spoken over individual's creativity.  God's promises and plans for what He has in store in the area of creativity were also revealed - encouraging stuff!  Just when you feel you are hitting a wall, God always breaks through - with a word of encouragement or direction.  You feel you can pick up again and launch into a new project.  That's why I enjoy the prophetic gifting so much - it ushers in God's encouragement when you need it the most.  Creative people need courage!  If we are to portray God's heart, His light in an ever-increasingly dark world - we need courage, huge reservoirs of it!  Courage to follow through on what you feel you are hearing from God - courage to launch out into a work which you may only have a glimpse of, not knowing where exactly it will take you.  You need courage to pursue your dream, especially when things get tough.  If you are feeling overwhelmed in pursuing your dream, hang in there, petition God for a word of encouragement.  He IS faithful!

So what's this all about?

A good guy asked recently, "So Drew, what project are you working on?" Many ideas flashed through my mind in that instant, but this blog is an attempt to get at least one more off the ground. "Create For Life" is a blog spot which hopes to encourage creative expression through any medium, really. And to act as a forum to bring together thoughts, ideas and inspiration in the arts, especially amongst those "peculiar people" - the called out ones, whose leader in this current revolution is their Creator.  Creative thoughts come and go, and unless you grab them right away, and hold them down, and make something of them, they may be lost forever, unused, abandoned and unrealized.  Thinking big might only remain in the mind unless we venture forth and express those thoughts.  The current is gaining momentum, so jump in and enjoy the flow as we Create For Life together.

Inspiration & artwork.

Today I attended our church's "soaking session" (see my notes on Facebook, or Soaking at the Oasis Church, also on FB), really trusting God that I would get some inspiration for an artwork soon!!  Well, God is faithful, as two of the prophetic words that came through gave me glimmers of images and feeling, which although embryonic now, I know will grow into something I can build with.  That's the creative process for me - something like a prophetic word will spark an image in my mind, then I know I have to put lots of prayer into it, waiting on God for further clues.  It's great fun, an adventure!  I also search for similar images in the world around me, or try to sketch it, and I start gathering these puzzle pieces to build and create with.  Yes, things do change along the way.  But I believe that if we commit these things to the Holy Spirit all the way through, he leads us toward what He can anoint.  I also try to work in different environments, on the same work, as this enhances different aspects of what I'm trying to achieve.  It may start with a fleeting image, which I try to "grab" somehow, then build around that till I feel I've captured the essence and feel of what God had in mind.

Prophetic word over creativity in the church: 12 June 2011

I felt that God is taking us into the next season of creativity. Fresh pictures, fresh ideas, drawing from fresh wells of inspiration. There is an adding, a skilling, where deadends are overcome, hurdles are broken through, to release a fresh freedom of expression, where prophetic words and images are easily shared and interpreted. There is an understanding of purity releasing beauty that God is leading creative believers to, priming the canvasses of our minds and hearts, a preparing of the heart - a purifying, so that what flows out is untainted and has a massive impact in the dying world, is life giving, is 'stupor' breaking is enboldening. There is a fresh "rising-up" of the Bride, a fresh call to arms, a strengthening and recommissioning. It's time to listen and to rise, and to do.

Creative Workshop, Prophetic Training Time, May 2011

Here are some pics from our recent Prophetic Training Time at The Oasis Church, Howick, South Africa (www.theoasischurch.co.za). Having done many of such workshops before, I can see how God is increasing the anointing for the arts in the Church. We had so much fun! and could have gone on all day. What was produced in this time was awesome. Stories continue to come through to us of how God brought a release of fresh creativity and freedom in people's lives. People used pen and ink, collage, creative writing, flower arranging, painting on large sheets of newsprint, & photography to express the weekend's theme of: "Sons of God manifest" - breaking through and then operating as SONS of GOD till Jesus soon return. (Romans 8 v 19: "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed"). It's all about knowing your true identity in Christ, being set free in this, then operating out of a place of freedom in Christ - the potential and possibilities are endless, as God will do more than we can ask or imagine!

"God-prepared-in-advance good works"

One of the books I'm currently reading is "Release The Power of Jesus", by Bill Johnson.

For the sake of illustrating a point, I want to include a portion of his writing.

"Through salvation we are also restored to our original purpose - the purpose that flows naturally from our restored identity and relationship with God.  Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  Works cannot save us, but without the fruit of good works in our lives, we lack the evidence that identifies us as new creations in Christ."

Now what I want to pick up on from this, is that once we become part of God's family through salvation, there is an expectation that we begin flowing in the predestined giftings that God brings to life in us.  They may have always been there, but with the Creator's backing now, you begin to create in a whole new way.  Your purpose in creating changes it's bearing; the emphasis changes, the drive behind it is God-inspired.  That's why an eight year old's painting, done spontaneously, without preconceived ideas about what art should be like, has such an impact.  It is achieving it's God-intended goal, either for just one individual, or many.  So the success of that painting is based on it hitting the God-intended mark.

We can so easily hide our giftings, not flow in them because we are too afraid that we would pass some man-made criteria of what is good or not.  I do believe that we should be growing in our giftings all the time, pushing our level of skill.  But in the process, we create for now - it's what God intended.  We have to rise up and dust off our talents so that they can be used for now.  Yes, it is a new season, so the challenge is to catch up.  But we do this not by looking at how we did things in the past and trying to replicate this, but by taking what you know and giving it to God, saying, "Use me for what you want to do now".

You will find His intention coming through, that there are "good works" stored up for you, waiting to flow through you - enjoy!