Creativity

 “Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It's self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can't try to do things. You simply must do things.” -Ray Bradbury

I believe that each living individual has creativity inside of them.

We just have to tap into it.

Some individuals have creativity oozing from their pores. These are they who paint, draw, write and invent at a high rate. They are constantly churning out the visions of their imagination.

Then there are those of us who have to try harder to find the creativity lurking in us. We know it's there but we never quite seem to connect and draw from it. We are they who long to paint, draw, write and invent but find ourselves with a room of unfinished projects.

It's the unfinished that haunts us.

It urges us to give up; to realize we are not the Van Gogh we wish to be.

However we must realize while we are born with creativity it must be nutured and cultured.

Remember as a child how you could create epic battle scenes with the neighborhood kids?

Remember how you could mass produce work after work of Crayola art?

Remember how you could be easily entertained for hours with just a couple of toys?

It's because you constantly fed your creativity.

Creativity is like a checking account.

If you don't put anything in it, eventually it's going to be empty.

Invest time to daily feed your creativity.

Like any good investment, it will pay in the long term.

No matter what area your creative genius lies, invest in it.

 Feed it.

Then watch it come back to feed your creative soul.

The Vital Need

I have started reading the Amplified Bible when studying. I had heard about the version at a Women's Conference. And then YouVersion (Love YouVersion! It's a smart phone must!) came out with it. Now it is one of my favorite Bible versions.

Last night when reading I came across Psalms 27. Sometimes I find I don't have the words to pray and during those times I open up the Psalms and pray them. Psalms 27 is an excellent psalm for this. As I prayed through Psalm 27, I came to verse 8 and couldn't leave it. It commanded my attention.

8You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word].

I want that Psalms 27:8 hunger. I want to passionately seek, ask for and require God's presence because I have to have it to survive. It has to be a need in my life

How often do we seek after God because we crave, yearn, need Him? Not because of what He can do for us but because without Him we are nothing. He must be my vital need.

Somehow I have to get beyond routine religion and start requiring "living water" for daily substance.



Hope Givers

Yesterday, I had a much needed conversation with my Gmom. Like I’ve mentioned in previous posts, my grandmother is a wise woman with insight I dream of having one day. I've been feeling self pity because of my current phase in life compared to that of my peers. She calmly listened as I emotionally unloaded on her and once I had finished she spoke hope into my heart.

She is a hope giver.

Hope Givers have the ability to move the emotional perspective on life. Hope Givers bring a calmness and peace about circumstances. They have the ability to give strength and courage to those who felt they could not go on.

In your realm of influence, are you a Hope Giver? It doesn't take a special degree or vast experience. It only takes a few minutes of your time and a few carefully chosen words.

You can change someone's life with the words you speak.

Are you a hope giver? Do you bring hope to those around you?

Learning experience # 528

  Sometimes open doors shut. Sometimes windows aren't meant to be raised. Sometimes it's a pride destroying experience. Sometimes you realize that it's not the plan for you. Sometimes there is more  than meets the eyes. Sometimes you want to cry in the disappointment.

It's apart of life.

BUT.

I KNOW,...

Not all open doors shut. Windows do open. Sometimes it's a building experience. There is a bigger plan for me. There is more divine working than meets the eyes. Sometimes blessings comes through tears.

And that it is all apart of life.

Not trying to be repetitive but this scripture is quickly becoming my manta.

Isaiah 40:27-31

27 Why do you complain, Jacob?

Why do you say, Israel,

“My way is hidden from the LORD;

my cause is disregarded by my God”?

28 Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

The Awakening

Last night I attended a student-led bible study at FPB. This group of around 10 students have started meeting on Monday nights for the sole purpose of digging deeper in the Word. When hearing about it, I thought I'd stop by and see what it was about.  I didn't quite know what to expect and I have to say I was pleasantly shocked. I was told the group started at 7pm so I arrived right on time guessing that it would start late (we're talking high schoolers here.) I was wrong. I was one of the last ones to arrive. The students were quietly talking while waiting for everyone to arrive. As I sat down, I noticed each student, whether it was a traditional Bible, iphone or ipad,  had a Bible with them. They were prepared and ready.

A student kicked it off with scripture and her thoughts on her chosen topic. She did well! She was clear and concise. It was obvious she prepared for the study. After she spoke, the other students began to chime in with their thoughts, experiences and encouragement. In amazement I listened to students openly and confidently discussing the Word and Godly lifestyles. I was in awe.  Afterwards, they passionately prayed for various individual needs and for a spiritual awakening.

The evening left me humbled and full of expectation. You know something incredible is about to happen when individuals begin to actively seek after Him. Age or background doesn't matter to God. He just wants one who seeks after His heart. I firmly believe at FPB there is a group of students who are actively seeking His Face. The awakening they prayed for is already upon them.

 Whether they realize it or not, they are the awakening.

¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.-Jeremiah 29:13

6 Ways Leaders Can Build Trust

Today's blog is by Dr. Jeremy Statton. I saw his post on Michael Hyatt's blog and decided to share his wisdom with you. Great read! I encourage you to start following Dr. Statton via blog or twitter!

6 Ways Leaders Can Build Trust

We have all had a boss that we did not respect. No matter how intelligent or charismatic, you knew that placing blind faith in him or her would be a mistake. You were always watching your back waiting for the sucker punch to come.
A lack of trust allows fear to become a primary motivation with your team members. They will fear your opinions. They will fear your decisions and evaluations. They will fear failure. They will fear you.
Once fear creeps in, your team members will become paralyzed.
Trust is something that has to be earned. It is something we are all told to give away slowly and to take back quickly.

Here are six ways that a leader can instill respect and trust in his team:

• Expose yourself. Open yourself to others. Not in a dangerous way where people can take advantage of you, but rather in a way that demonstrates honesty and humility. Your team needs to know that you are just like them. Be willing to admit your own failures. If you put up a wall around yourself, your team will too.
• Take the hit. When undesirable outcomes happen, we are all quick to point the finger. If your team members see that you are willing to take the blame for the good of the team, even if its not directly your fault, then they will start to let go and trust you. As leader of a team you need to accept the responsibility for both the good and the bad.
• Build your team members up. This is the opposite of taking the hit. Whenever it is appropriate make sure you praise your team members in front of their peers and superiors. Be sure to applaud their efforts and results. Never try to take sole credit for something good that the team did.
• Get rid of the leash. Allow for freedom to explore new ideas and to be creative. If people feel that you are micro-managing them, they will stop trusting you. Make room for failure and more importantly the opportunity to learn from failure.
• Accept confrontation. Fighting is not good, but neither is false agreement. When there is a difference of opinion, promote discussion. Explore solutions with the intent to solve problems. If disagreement never occurs, then your team is afraid of telling you the truth.
• Find the value in each person. We all have weaknesses, but we also have strengths. Everyone brings something different to the table. Find what is unique in each individual and use that unique strength for the good of the team.

With trust a team can work together. Individuals will accept roles. Leaders will be respected. Teams can be productive.

Oceanside God Talks

   I'm back from my mini vacation to the ocean. I loved each minute of it. I think I could live by the ocean. The smells, the sounds and the view soothe my soul like none other. During the last few minutes of the drive, Jen ( the driver) rolled the windows down and the salty, tangy smell of the ocean filled the vehicle. I took a deep breath and released all the frustrations.
   Each morning at 7am, I awoke before everyone else and  grab my Publix blueberry yogurt, bottled water, Bible and JesusCulture, a book by Banning Liebscher. I would head out to the balcony which overlooked the gorgeous water and spend some time in the Word.  Staring out over the roaring waves while the sun would peek up over the horizon, I would sit thoughtless in awe of how He breathed this massive space into being.
   There on the deserted sands, I would watch as God showed off His might through the crashing waves and think of how truly small I am in comparsion. Yet, He favors me over the might of the ocean. He favors me over infinite sands. He favors me over the seemly endless waters. He values me above all of His artfully, masterfully, grand creations.

    Psalms chapter 8: 3-4 comes to mind:

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?"

 He is mindful of me in my small pitiful state with so many flaws. In spite of all of my shortcomings, He favors me. As I sat looking over the waters, my heart was full of humbled awe that He would care and be mindful of me in my low state.  He looks beyond my past, my problems, my flaws and stumblings, and sees who I can become in Him. I stand humbled by His mercy and grace.

Psalms 93: 4

" Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the LORD on high is mighty. "