Anne Unfiltered

Wow! Wonderfully insightful piece from Kathryn Jackson. Must-read!

Anne has very little ability to filter her own thoughts. This results in her complimenting strangers and interrupting conversations. Most of the time, she is delightful, but then there are episodes like today…

This morning, I started a new adventure in our new church – teaching a 5th grade leadership/discipleship class. My experienced co-leader warned me that this year’s class could be the biggest EVER. Kate and Anne – both being 5th graders – get to have me as their teacher. Lucky them 😉

Anne, Kate and I arrived early to church to welcome the 5th graders to class. Imagine my surprise when TWENTY NINE crazy kids showed up. Consequently, I decided to begin the year with a serious talk about behavior expectations 😉 As I began my spiel, literally, as if she had planned it, Anne began SCREAMING at me. Seriously. Screaming. “Stupid, mom! I want a snack!!” Kate tried to calm her down which only made Anne madder…”KATE…

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Painting and Listening

Colleen Briggs has dusted off her brushes and is back to canvas with this sweet reminder. I had the privilege of catching up with Colleen one day over lunch — that was almost two years ago. What a BEaUtiful time… kindred hearts…
Thanks Colleen for listening to that Inner Voice

Colleen Briggs Images & Writing

hesed In the last few months I traveled halfway around the world. The trip was like a rock dropped in a lake, and I’m flowing out in the ripples. Opportunities to share the story of Sanctuary of Hope and Pamba Toto abound. I’m swimming hard to keep up.

Amidst it all, my children, home on summer break from school, moved in and out of my coming and going. Summer bustled with joy. Now, as they return to school, quiet settles over the house and over my soul.

I feel expectant and afraid.

Brushes and paint, gathering dust during my longest break from painting in the last four years, quietly whisper, “It’s time.”

I try to ignore it.

The same old taunts leak into my mind. Art is such a lonely journey with no clear markers, like wandering in a forest without a trail. Every tree looks the same and there are few guides…

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Connecting the Dots

Great article from Manuel Luz on our role as artists, creatives and worshipers in the church!

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity — Year in Review

In December 2014, God pressed on my heart an idea that would take a year-long commitment and some serious sleuthing. And now, 253 posts and over a year later, the project is done! That project was Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity! A play on One-A-Day® Vitamins, the idea was to refill, replenish and renew your creative soul. My goal was to provide you, the creative Christian, with resources to help develop ARTistry, CREATivity & your capacity for BEaUty.

Over the course of the year, I connected with some amazing folks doing creative ministry in many different ways and places around the world. In connection and conversation, I learned that there is a movement of artists and creatives on the leading edge of what many believe will be the next Great Awakening, as artists rise up to take their place to reveal God’s glory on this earth. Will you join those artists and creatives in making his praise glorious? Follow the Spirit’s leading in your life and reveal Christ through the BEaUty you create!!

If you’ve enjoyed Create-A-Day, be sure to like me on Facebook as I will be using that as my main platform for sharing resources of ARTistry, CREATivity, and BEaUty in the future.

In case you missed the excitement, here’s the Create-A-Day 2015 year in review:

Top series:

ADVENTure Prayer Walk: Advent devotional series
Art Journaling series
Why the Church Needs Art video series from Scott Erickson
“7” Virtual Art Walk: Last Words of Christ in Poetry, Art & Song Lenten series with Matt Durbin & Sarah Wells
Readers also enjoyed our book focus, which ran mid-September through October, with Praying in Color by Sybil MacBeth, Let the Bones Dance by Marcia Mount Shoop and Books for Worship Dance garnering the most attention.

Top 20 individual posts:

If you’d like to explore resources from the past year, I’ve grouped them so you can explore by category:

Or you can simply click here and work your way down through wonderful plethora of creative resources! I hope you’ve enjoyed our year of creativity. If you find any dead links, comment and let me know so I can keep these resources as current as possible. Don’t forget to visit again and please use these resources for your church or ministry.

And don’t forget: Make His praise GLORIOUS!!

Blessings of ARTistry, CREATivity & BEaUty, Jody

______________________

Jody Thomae is the author of God’s Creative Gift—Unleashing the Artist in You, a devotional book with Bible studies to nurture the creative spirit within and to serve as a resource for creative Christians, artists, musicians and worshippers. She has been involved in worship arts ministry since 1997, coordinating artistic involvement in church services and regional worship events through dance, drama, poetry and fine arts. She performs, teaches, choreographs, preaches, coordinates and leads workshops in the area of creativity, spirituality and embodied prayer. She has also recently released a devotional CD, Song of the Beloved. Her passion is for the revelation of God to be made more real through the prophetic use of the arts in church and formational ministry. It is her desire to portray the message of Christ’s desperate and unfailing love for His people to help sustain the hearts of the broken and weary. Life scriptures include Psalm 27; Isaiah 50:4-7; and Zephaniah 3:14-17.

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #253 — Heart of Courage

Screen Shot 2015-12-30 at 9.56.56 AM

Our last post of 2015!

Let me leave you with this message of courage as you walk the path God has placed before you for the year ahead.

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
    you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
  which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother marveled at what Simeon said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” ~ Lk 2:29-35

Imagine hearing this blessing over your child and then those very last words. Just as Simeon is pouring out this wonderful worship of the infant Christ, he ends with this warning to Mary. Women of Ancient Israel longed to give birth to the promised Messiah, the One who would bring hope, healing and restoration to their nation. Yet few would understand the cost of this “gift.”

What gift has God entrusted to you? How will you work with God to bring it to fulfillment in your life? Will you press forward even when the road ahead gets tough? Even when your soul is pierced? Will you still say yes? Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #252 — Visioning the Invisible

As we wind down our year of creative posts, I want to direct you to a blog post from my friend Dave Weiss of AMOK Arts entitled “Vision… Can You See it?” This post is a short but powerful word of encouragement to artists and creatives about moving forward in the dreams, callings, visions and destinies to which God is calling you.

It is my prayer that as this year unwinds you will seek the Lord’s guidance and will for the coming year. What creative destiny has He placed on your heart? What has He called you to for the season ahead? Make yourself “present” to God and seek what he has for you in this present moment! Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #251 — Nativity Shadow Dance

Screen Shot 2015-12-05 at 11.44.45 PM We are nearing the end of our Create-A-Day 2015 posts. As we wind down, I want to leave you with a shadow dance to “O Magnum Mysterium” sung live for CHRISTmas Eve 2013 at Northland Church in Longwood, Florida. Such BEaUty!!

“O Magnum Mysterium” written & arranged by Morten Lauridsen

Original Text:
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum. Alleluia. Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #250 — Infinite Windows

I trust you had a blessed CHRISTmas holiday as you celebrated the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Did you know in traditional Christian church tradition, CHRISTmas lasts through Epiphany on January 6th? As we wind down from the CHRISTmas holiday weekend, let us remember that Jesus came both to LIVE as God among us (Incarnation) and to DIE as the final atoning sacrifice (Salvation). He is both Lion and Lamb, Alpha and Omega, Healer and Savior, Infant Babe and Victorious King!

Today let me refer you to an October post on Infinite Windows, a blog with meditations on faith and art. This post describes a powerful encounter the writer recently had with a piece of artwork at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. The painting was Caravaggio’s Christ Crowned with Thorns, and it depicts Roman soldiers forcing the crown of thorns upon Jesus’ head. I am often astonished by the power of art to bring us into life-changing encounters and memories of God’s redemptive power, grace and love. Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #249 — What is Christmas?

What is the true meaning of CHRISTmas? I know this can be a difficult season for many. There is only one way to be truly fulfilled in this season:

Clayton Jennings is on a mission to #TellTheWorld about the saving love of Jesus Christ. One way in which he does this is through powerful videos like the one above. Another way is through spoken word:

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #248 — Jesus as a Work of Art

Have you ever thought about the “creation” of Christ? Not as God but as a human, a baby, born in a manger, as the scripture says? Who decided what he would look like, his smile, the color of his eyes, the shape of his tiny nose? Did he and God the Father put their heads together and say, “This is what God Incarnate should look like.” Or did God simply say, “Let me surprise you, Son”?

Just some thoughts to ponder as I direct you to a short CHRISTmas devotional called Christ Jesus — a Work of Art. May you be blessed as you consider this most precious gift the world has ever received!

Create-A-Day #247: ADVENTure Prayer Walk 5 — the CHRIST Candle

ADVENTure is a self-directed prayer walk pondering the true meaning of Christmas. You can read all about it here, as well as learn how you can do this as interactive prayer walk for your church or ministry.

This week is CHRISTmas! Our Savior has come!! Hallelujah! As we consider the true meaning of CHRISTmas we light the CHRIST Candle at the center of the Advent Wreath. The One we have waited for has come!

The Christ Candle

Read: Luke 2:1-7

Meditation:

We typically reflect on Christ in his years of ministry – as a grown man. The man who walked among his people, healing them, teaching them, forgiving them and loving them.

Have you ever stopped to consider Christ as a baby?

an infant?

tiny and helpless?

dependant on others to care for him?

to love him and nurture him? Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #246 — Are you still Waiting?

Are you WAITING with intention? Are you slowing down? Are you remembering to breathe?

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #245 — There… Amazing Grace Extended

S x manger3 Want to explore resources from two writer / poets today.

First, we’ve explored the work of artist / author Tom Graffagnino before. Today I want to direct you to his page where you can read and meditate on his poem There… Amazing Grace Extended, complete with many BEaUtiful names of Christ WITH scripture references!! It would make a wonderful way to meditate on God’s word today. Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #244 — More Advent Resources!

LEAD Advent Resource
Artwork by Vonda Drees

Directing you to LEAD: Living Every day As Disciples to yet another creative Advent resource! Look for Advent & Lenten Resources (under the “Resources” tab) which includes contemplative prayer liturgies and accompanying creative experiences for your use during Advent. Free printables for coloring, downloadable liturgies for bulletins, links to videos — everything is there for you! This is an amazing resource for use in your church, ministry or family!

Another resource added 2018: a free online resource from Brenda Warren of Saintsbridge. 40 Days of Advent devotionals called “Celts to the Creche” is inspired by Celtic and Anglo-Saxon saints. This pilgrimage to the creche in Bethlehem begins November 16. Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #243 — The Voice of the Father

Throughout November and December I’ve been sharing Advent resources, gift ideas, and creative meditations for Christmas.

Yesterday I shared a meditation on the Love of Joseph, the earthly father of the Son of God, for the infant Jesus. I wanted to build on that today with a Father’s Day video created by Christian Comedian, Michael, Jr. Continue reading

Create-A-Day #242: ADVENTure Prayer Walk 4 — Love & Joseph

This Sunday, December 20th is the fourth Sunday of Advent. As we consider the true meaning of CHRISTmas we light our fourth candle of the Advent Wreath; the Candle of LOVE and we think of Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, the man who raised a child that wasn’t his.

Candle of Love: Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus

Read: Matthew 1:18-25

Meditation:

This passage tells us that Joseph was a righteous man. While he was probably disappointed when he first found out Mary was with child, God’s direction gave him reassurance. He walked in that reassurance and raised Jesus as his own son.

Now was Joseph simply obedient or did he grow to love Mary and her son Jesus? As a righteous man, a man of God, I believe he grew to love them both.

Matthew 13:35 tells us that Joseph was a carpenter. As Jesus’ earthly father, he would have taught his son his trade. They spent their days working side by side. Learning to build and hewn and nail.

by Jose Ortega

Thirty years later, a cross would be hewn and built from wood and nails were used to secure the hands and feet of Christ to that cross. The carpenter’s son crucified. Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #241 — Hallelujah! a Son is Born!

If you’ve not heard Cloverton’s CHRISTmas version of Hallelujah, I hope you find it as touching as I did the first time I heard it. Always loved the original music but these words, completely turn it into a wonderful song of worship. Be blessed!

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #240 — Christmas Devotional Experience

Mary and Jesus
by Podi Lawrence

Today I want to direct you to a Christmas Devotional Experience from Soul Shepherding. It can be adapted and used in a variety of contexts, including personal devotions, small groups, family gatherings and worship settings.

According to Soul Shepherding:

In this Christmas devotional we take a journey to welcome Christ to be born anew in our hearts. There are Scripture meditation and prayers to help you identify with eight different characters from the story — including some surprise characters that you wouldn’t have thought of! You can pick one character for the season and keep returning to related Scripture meditations and prayers or you can pick a different one each day. What a blessing it is to companion these characters as they adore the Christ child!

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #239 — Powerful Drummer Boy Dance

So, I can’t even begin to tell you how much I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this CHRISTmas dance to The Little Drummer Boy! First, Mickye Castillo’s Freedom in the Dance (FITD) Ministry is a powerful and anointed dance ministry out of Dallas, so that alone tells you this will be good!! But then…. they added a drum corps to the dance!!

Snare-Drum-And-Stick-Wallpaper-Computer Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #238 — Gift Ideas for Art Journalers

Today’s post is for Bible art journalers and other crafty folks, with a Christmas gift idea, a free resource and a blog with great ideas for art journaling! Wow! This one is loaded!

First, the gift idea! I have heard folks say the only thing they don’t like about art journaling in their Bibles is that the 2-3″ margins aren’t big enough, and they don’t like to cover the words of scripture! The soon-to-be-available Interleaved ESV Journaling Bible might be just the Bible for you then! There is a blank canvas to compliment every page! It will be available March 11, 2016 but you can pre-order now at a reduced rate. You can check out all the details on move-the-mountains.com. (I recommend exploring that blog too — great resources and ideas!!)

Second, here’s a resource for art journalers and anyone else wanting to get creative with Advent: free downloadable Advent scripture cards from Displaying Grace blog. They support a wonderfully creative Advent study, also found on the blog. Tons of great family activity ideas and free printables to help make this a memorable and thoughtful CHRISTmas season. Continue reading

Nurturing the Creative Spirit Within

Inspiration, Resources & Bible studies from Jody Thomae

Creative Resources