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 #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

Create-A-Day #237: ADVENTure Prayer Walk 3 — Joy & Mother Mary

This Sunday, December 13th is the third Sunday of Advent. As we consider the true meaning of CHRISTmas we light our third candle of the Advent Wreath; the Candle of JOY and we consider the joy Mary must have felt at knowing she would bear the only Son of God, the Messiah, the Chosen One sent to save the people of Israel!

Candle of Joy: Mary, the Mother of Jesus

Read: Luke 1:26-38 & 46-55

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #234 — Nativity Suite Poetry for Christmas

Go ahead and rise, stars.

“Simeon’s Moment” by Ron DiCianni

Whisper about the origins

of the universe, your secret,

holy fires. Tonight I will remember

the child I held to my chest.

I will pull my cloak to my face

and drift in the sweetness of milk.

from Simeon by Tania Runyan (Lines 25-31)

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #233 — Music & Memories

Today I’m sending you over to Dave Weiss’ blog at AMOK Arts to a post he did for CHRISTmas last year called Tell a Better Story: Mark Schultz… Different Kind of Christmas.

May you be blessed by this BEaUtiful song and the story behind it. And may you remember to reach out to those who’ve lost loved ones this past year with love, grace and compassion.

Create-A-Day #232: ADVENTure Prayer Walk 2 — The Shepherds’ Peace

This Sunday, December 6th is the second Sunday of Advent. As we consider the true meaning of CHRISTmas we light our second candle of the Advent Wreath; the Candle of PEACE, and we consider the shepherds who came and worshiped and wondered at Jesus’ birth.

Candle of Peace: The Shepherds

http://www.seetheholyland.net

Read: Luke 2:8-20

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #230 — What is Advent?

I’ve already been posting ideas for CHRISTmas and Advent. For some, Advent is this vague concept that their church may or may not acknowledge or celebrate. For others, they are very familiar with Advent and are well into plans for the first Sunday of Advent coming this weekend. For those in both camps, I’d like to direct you to this great article by Reverend Dr. Mark D. Roberts. Continue reading

Create-A-Day #229: ADVENTure Prayer Walk 1 — Hope & the Wise Men

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 interactive prayer walk for your church or ministry.

This coming Sunday, November 29th, is the first Sunday of Advent. As we consider the true meaning of CHRISTmas we light our first candle of the Advent Wreath, the Candle of HOPE, and we consider the Wise Men who traveled across many miles when the star appeared in the sky in the east.

Candle of Hope: The Wise Men

Read: Matthew 2:1-12

Meditation:

The Wise Men were men of knowledge and HOPE. Their knowledge gave them the information they needed to discern the coming king and where they would find Him. Their HOPE gave them the desire to seek after Him.

They followed a star – a brilliant light in the sky – and it led them directly to the “King of the Jews.” They sought hard after Him, and they found Him. They brought Him gifts and worshiped Him. Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #228 — The Advent Door

The Advent Door is the blog of artist, author and minister Jan Richardson. For several years now Jan has posted weekly Advent meditations with her artwork and poetry. The meditations are based on each year’s lectionary cycle. You can sift down through the posts and be inspired by her BEaUtiful artwork and thoughtful poetry, just make sure you hit ‘older posts’ at the bottom to continue down through the posts she has made over the years. She has much to share to take us through the CHRISTmas season. Resource ideas for corporate or personal worship — a great way to prayerfully and intentionally move through the season. Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #226 — Advent Media Resources

Need Advent and CHRISTmas resources for your church or ministry this coming season? Don’t forget Worship House Media, Sermon Spice, or Share Faith for everything from still images to whole video packages for Advent! Search “Advent” or “Christmas” and you’ll find tons of great resources to add creativity to your worship! Continue reading

Nurturing the Creative Spirit Within

Inspiration, Resources & Bible studies from Jody Thomae

Advent

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

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