Author: Jody Thomae

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #223 — Interactive Advent Candle Lighting

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Slide1Looking to add creativity to your Advent Candle lighting in your church services?

Looking to get your worshipers more involved in the Advent Lighting instead of just watching from their pews?

Sending you over the Still Waters blog again where Pastor Theresa’s Advent Candle Lighting post has great ideas to make it more interactive and creative! She has two different ideas with S candle rowpictures, supply lists and instructions so you can see exactly how to duplicate it for your own church or ministry event. Check it out today! Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #222 — Dance of the Trinity

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Won’t you join me on the dance floor today? This is going to take some artistic license and creative choreography, but I hope you will join me with open mind, heart and eyes.

When I first watched this dance to Luminus on So You Think You Can Dance (2015), I was immediately taken with what I saw as the image of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Three dancers dancing and creating together in unity and beauty. Let me describe what I see in this dance. You can follow along with the times throughout the video indicated.

To set the stage, Derek Piquette (left) represents God the Father, Gaby Diaz (middle) dances the Holy Spirit, and Moises Parra (floor) represents Christ. SYTYCD 2015 2From the very beginning of the dance, we see three persons from one God. The smoke creates an ethereal mist and the stars an image of space and time being created. Just as the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the earth so too do they (0:33) as the three work together to create all of earth and mankind. Then God steps forward as the Great I AM (0:35+), Father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Next the Holy Spirit steps forward (0:42+) bringing artistry to the Tabernacle through the Spirit-filled artist Bezalel, the gifts of the Israelite people, and the worship of the Levites, revealing the beauty of God (0:49). Then as they dance in unison, we see them working together to demonstrate God’s faithfulness and sovereignty throughout the history of his people. Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #221 — Why Advent is Important to Artists

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S x baby hand

“My encouragement to all artists of faith is to see every creative act you do during this Advent season as a breathtaking remembrance of God’s loving incarnation to us.” ~Manuel Luz Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #220 — Creative Flourishing in the Desert Online Retreat

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Slide1As year-end approaches, I will begin to post ideas for Advent, as well as a few Christmas gift ideas for the creative Christian. Today’s post is an example of a gift idea! So pass this along to your spouse, mom, grandma or friend with a “hint, hint” so they get the idea! 😉

Creative Flourishing in the Desert is a six-week self-study, online retreat offered by Christine Valters Paintner of the Abbey of the Arts. Based on the wisdom of creative Benedictine Abbess St. Hildegard of Bingen, weekly themes include: Viriditas (the “greening” power of God); Body, Soul, & Senses;  Incarnation; The Greening of the Virtues; Holy Wisdom; and Music and Integration.

Museum - Hildegard von Bingen

Museum – Hildegard von Bingen

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #219 — ADVENTure Prayer Walk

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Advent BabyJesus strawADVENTure is a self-directed prayer walk we did several times at church on our college campus. It includes scriptures and short meditations combined with an activity at each prayer station designed to help ponder the true meaning of Christmas.

The church is set up with four candles around the outside of the room to represent a traditional Advent wreath. Another candle is positioned in the middle of the room to represent the Christ candle. These candles become the prayer stations where there are scripture meditations and supplies for an activity associated with each scripture passage. Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #218 — Prophetic Art International

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FBIt’s another Facebook Friday!!

Today’s group is Prophetic Art International and is administered by Victoria Robertson and Christopher W Bennett.

Here’s the group description:

A group available for us Artistic Christians to share what God is doing through Artists in the church! Previously Prophetic Art Canada, this group has grown far beyond the borders of just Canada, so the name of this group has been altered to reflect that!

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #217 — Ta-Nehisi Coates on Writing

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T Coates

Bringing you a great video today with author, journalist, blogger and teacher Ta-Nehisi Coates from Creative Breathroughs by The Atlantic. It’s less than 4-minutes and worth the watch! Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #216 — Advent Illustrated

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Sara laughedI LOVE the idea I’m sharing today! Sara Laughed is a fun and creative blog and this year she is doing a Bible journaling challenge called Advent Illustrated. Throughout the Advent season (from November 29th to December 24th), Sara will share a Bible verse, starting with Genesis and extending to the nativity story. She will also provide creative prompts for folks who need a little bit more inspiration. Everyone is encouraged to share their art journal project on her Facebook page or on Instagram with the hashtag #AdventIllustrated. Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #215 — Down to the River Dance

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Keone & Mari Madrid

Enjoy this remarkable piece by Keone & Mari Madrid, a husband and wife duo that loves to tell stories through dance and choreography. This piece is called Water.


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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #214 — God’s Creative Gift

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National Book MonthAs we wrap up end our tribute to National Book Month, I would be remiss if I didn’t introduce my own book. “Last but not least” as the saying goes!

I wrote God’s Creative Gift—Unleashing the Artist in You in obedience to God’s calling in my life. Frankly, many of the topics I wrote about were thoughts and ideas that wouldn’t leave me alone until I had gently guided them onto paper. It is designed as a Bible study and devotional, great for individual or group study. It is not just for artists but creative folks of all forms, mediums and venues.

The Word of God is vital to our lives. It has much to say to all of us, and more than that, it has much to say to artists and creatives! Discover what God’s Word has to say to you as his masterpiece, his poem, his BEaUtiful creation! If you click here, it will lead you to my store where you can purchase a copy of my book signed with a personal blessing just for you! You can read more about my book here.

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #213 — The Seventy

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National Book MonthAs we wind down our focus on books for artists, creatives and worshipers, I want to direct you to a new book that came out just this month!

The Seventy: A Movement of Creativity in the Earth by Pastor Bernard Boulton is based on a prophetic prayer he spoke over his congregation in 2009.

SeventyThis book announces a movement of creativity rising in the earth during the second decade of the twenty first century. The God of creativity who created the heavens and the earth and created mankind in His image is raising up and sending out a remnant of creative artists who have seen God with a pure heart and have a call on their lives to release the love of God through creative expression.

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #212 — The Creative Epiphany

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National Book MonthThe month of October and National Book Month are coming to a close, dear friends. I hope you’ve found some books to add to your creative library!

The Creative EpiphanyI’ve shared The Creative Epiphany blog of artist Jo Ann Brown-Scott previously. You can see that here. I want to direct you to a specific post about her book, entitled The Creative Epiphany: Gifted Minds, Grand Realizations, which delves into the creative minds of 19 artists with stories of their personal encounter with “Epiphany.” In her post celebrating January 6th, the Day of Epiphany, she talks about her book and ends with this wonderful thought-provoking quote:

. . . an epiphany brings information  –  an enlightening message of some variety  –  that you did not have before. A missing piece in your plans. And you needed it to move forward. It is of great help to you and utmost importance that you pay attention to it. There are some keys to accommodating the arrival of the coveted epiphany – the best one is to remain open and present, living in the now, aware and alert to all possibilities. Keep a receptive mind, engaged and involved in life. Be hopeful. Have faith.

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #211 — Arts Ministry & More!

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National Book MonthNational Book Month is winding down! And we have THREE books—all for artists and creatives in church ministry! I know many creatives feel like the church has let them down, but these books help artists AND pastors walk through the process of starting a worship arts ministry together. All three make a strong case for the use of arts in our churches. Here they are and what others are saying about them!

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #210 — Books of Theologian Jeremy Begbie

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National Book MonthJeremy Begbie, professor of theology at Duke Divinity School, has spent much of his life focusing on the intersections of the arts, faith and theology. Now I know, often artists write off theologians and academicians because we think they don’t “get” us artists, but I can assure you Dr. Begbie gets us!! He is indeed one of us!! A musician in his own right, he has been spear-heading arts initiatives at seminaries and universities across the world, making sure professors, pastors and religious thinkers know that the arts have a vital role to play in the Church!

His books (with short reviews/descriptions from Amazon reviewers) include:

Voicing Creation's PraiseVoicing Creation’s Praise: Towards a Theology of the Arts is “for those interested in serious theological reflection on art. Begbie’s unique background as a classically-trained musician and Cambridge theologian gives him wonderful insight and Spirit-led authority in dealing with this critical cultural topic. Moreover, Begbie breaks free of the Modernist stranglehold on aesthetic philosophy, and presents a refreshing and deeply Christocentric analysis of the relationship between the character and action of God and human creativity.” I’ll warn you, this book is expensive, so look into borrowing it from the library. Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #209 — A Million Little Ways

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National Book MonthNational Book Month is winding down! I hope you’ve found some new resources to add to your creative library!!

Today’s book for your library is A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live by Emily P. Freeman. I gleaned this BEaUtiful gem of a quote from her blog post about how a five word email turned into a book:

“I don’t write as an expert – I’m not sure there is such a thing in deep matters of the soul. I write as a fellow image bearer, an intuitive observer and participant in the art of God.Million Little Ways

I see artistic potential in not only those pursuits the world would label artistic like painting and singing and dance, but also in small gestures done with great faith, like listening, waiting, and showing up.

There is an art alive within you and you don’t have to go anywhere to find it. Because the art alive within you was woven into the fabric of your soul when you were made in the secret place. Doubt, discouragement and distraction may be covering it up, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. When believers embrace the unique shape of their soul and move into the world as the person we most fully are, art comes out.”

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #208 — Wired for Creativity

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National Book MonthFor National Book Month we’ve been exploring books for artists, creatives and worshipers! The month is winding down, but we still have several more books to cover!

Candace L. Long is writer of plays (both screen and theater), books and songs, and a 40-year veteran of the arts and entertainment industry! She is the author of two books I’d like to point out today:

Screen Shot 2015-10-22 at 4.41.17 PMWired for Creativity recounts her journey into a spiritual desert / wilderness experience and reveals over 60 biblical principles the Lord taught her on surviving the creative calling. According to one reviewer, “It’s a thorough discussion of the roots of the creative personality and real solutions to obstacles we encounter. It gave me some real peace and strength.” (Disclaimer: this book is VERY expensive on Amazon, but very affordable on Candace’s website.) Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #207 — Praying in Color

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National Book MonthFor National Book Month this month we are exploring books for creatives, artists and worshipers.

Yesterday we explored praying with the body; today let’s explore Praying In Color: Drawing a New Path to God by Sybil MacBeth.

Praying in ColorMaybe you love color. Maybe you are a visual or kinesthetic learner, a distractable or impatient soul, or a word-weary pray-er. Perhaps you struggle with a short attention span, a restless body, or a tendency to live in your head.

If that describes you, perhaps this is the book for you! There’s even Praying in Black & White, especially geared towards men! You can explore more at MacBeth’s website Praying in Color.

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #206 — Praying With the Body

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National Book MonthTo celebrate National Book Month, we continue our focus on books for creatives, artists and worshipers.

Praying With the Body: Bringing the Psalms to Life by Ray DeLeon is a great resource for those who want to engage their whole selves in their prayer practice.

In Praying with the Body readers will find both prayer tools Praying with the Bodyand companionship. Black and white drawings showing the postures and expressions of the body, accompany the scripture texts and explanations by Roy DeLeon. Working together, these elements invite readers to taste, explore, and discover a new and different way of knowing God. This book is for anyone who wants a more integrated and reconciled approach to prayer.

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #205 — Artists & Artisans Awake!

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National Book MonthNational Book Month continues with books for creatives, artists and worshipers!!

Artists & Artisans Awake: Creativity & the Global Harvest is written by Bhari Long, a leader in the prophetic art movement in the UK. She and her husband James Mark Long not only labor as prophetic artists themsleves, but also mentor younger artists to release them in their calling as creatives in God’s kingdom.

Gordon Wright, founder of Crossline Christian Ministries in the UK, has this to say in review of the book:

“Artists & Artisans Awake! is a successful blend of the Artists & Artisans Awakeauthor’s own journey into prophetic creativity together with insights which are both helpful and challenging. Through narrative, anecdote, testimonies and practical exercises, Bhari brings encouragement and inspiration across a wide range of artistic expression. If you seek to go deeper into this precious gift of God — this book is for you. Read, enjoy and be blessed.”

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #204 — Finding Divine Inspiration & Creative Church Handbook

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National Book MonthNational Book Month continues with more books for creatives, artists and worshipers!!

Arts advocate J. Scott McElroy is the author of two works on creativity. In Finding Divine Inspiration: Working with the Finding Divine InspirationHoly Spirit in Your Creativity, McElroy encourages his readers to work in collaboration with Holy Spirit in their creative process and provides a strong Biblical and historical perspective for the Holy Spirit’s role in creativity. The book also includes interviews with painter Thomas Blackshear, Dan Haseltine from Jars of Clay, Peter Furler of Newsboys, and writer/producer Buzz McLaughlin.

Creative ChurchCreative Church Handbook: Releasing the Power of the Arts in Your Congregation is McElroy’s latest release. It includes practical advice for churches wanting to add greater levels or artistry and creativity to their services. He also provides guidelines for establishing a worship arts ministry, as well as advice on how to impact your community through the arts. Continue reading