God's Creative Gift is an in-depth study for the creative Christian. It is intended for both professional and lay artists, for the casual crafter and hobbyist, and for those in both sacred and secular settings. It is for those who see things where others do not and for those whose imaginations cannot be confined by religious dogma and tradition. It is for musicians, singers, painters, sculptors, dancers, dramatists, writers, poets, carvers, weavers, film editors, photographers, filmmakers, architects, designers--anyone who finds inspiration in creativity. Focusing on the creative spirit within, it is designed to help you draw your inspiration from a Deeper Source. It is deeply rooted in Scripture--for the creative Christian must enter into the Word of God on a regular basis in order to know the choreographer of her steps, the crafter of her designs, the author and perfecter of her faith, and the sculptor of her creative heart, soul, mind, and body. And to know Him intimately.
Can you imagine a God who dances with shouts of joy, laughs when you laugh, loves to play, and invites us to join the fun? In this book Christine Sine invites us to pay attention to childlike characteristics that have the power to reshape us, with fresh spiritual practices that engage all our senses and help us embrace the wonder and joy that God intends for us.
What if you could gather up all the shattered and scattered pieces of your broken heart and surrender them to a Master Artist who would then piece it back together into a BEaUtiful work of heART? ...a powerful kind of "Kintsugi of the Soul"...Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with a lacquer mixed with powdered gold. When an object is broken, rather than discarding the damaged and broken, the pieces are mended, and cracks are filled with precious metal and, in many ways, make the object more beautiful than it was at the start. As a philosophy, it is rooted in the inherent beauty of all objects, no matter what they've endured. And the philosophy behind kintsugi is the same one that inspires this book.Kintsugi is a powerful metaphor of Jesus Christ, the Master Artisan, filling and healing the shattered places within. As the broken places are tenderly pieced back together and repaired with his golden healing balm, they become a beautiful place where God's glory is revealed in our weakness. In "The Creator's Healing Power-Restoring the Broken to Beautiful" you will discover a path to healing with a focus on artistry, beauty, creativity and worship. Based on the Formational Prayer Model developed by Dr. Terry Wardle, "The Creator's Healing Power" is an in-depth and interactive Bible study exploring the connection between healing and creativity, prayer and redemption, surrender and beauty, worship and wholeness. As an interactive workbook, each chapter includes "Digging Deeper" Bible studies to help you uncover more about each subject area, exploring what God's Word has to say to aid us on our healing journey. Additionally, each "Digging Deeper" Bible study includes reflection questions to use as journaling prompts, song suggestions, and instructions for stepping into a creative process as a path towards healing. Throughout the book you will also find movie clips, songs and videos to use as you creatively process all you have learned. Each chapter concludes with a "benediction" of poetry and a coloring page-graciously shared by fellow artists, wounded healers, on the healing journey themselves. Poems included are by creatives such as Sarah M. Wells, Jan Richardson and Tom Graffagnino. Also included are stories and testimonies from artists and creatives who share how they have used their creativity to heal themselves and others.Are you ready to begin a journey of reclamation and redemption with the Healer of All Healers? Are you ready for the Master Artist to take the broken, fractured, bifurcated and scattered places within and perform "Kintsugi of the Soul" in you? Let "The Creator's Healing Power-Restoring the Broken to Beautiful" be the place where you begin.
Your words create and your words destroy. God created the universe with His Words, and He gave Christians that same authority here on earth. Many believers are not experiencing Gods absolute best simply because they dont realize the authority and responsibility they posses.
Do you dare risk unreservedly combining your Christian faith with your creativity? Could you be assured of thriving in the arts, or does that sound outrageously improbable?Sadly, too many Christians abandon their creativity, as if they were the hapless recipients of a toy with incomprehensible instructions, thus walking away from their destiny-their very reason for being gifted in such a time as this. They remain oblivious of their God-authored potential, empowered by faith, to uniquely express the many nuances of their journey with Jesus. What Sara Joseph discovered may surprise you. An artist in paint, clay, and verse, Sara testifies to God's infinite interest in every aspect of her creative enterprise. In Gently Awakened, she employs prose, verse, and art to attest to God's faithfulness, even to the artist. Far from empty theories, these lessons, forged in the paint-splattered laboratory of her own life, bring clarity to the practical considerations of living out the unique call of a creative Christian. Such a story could be yours to live, in partnership with your Creator. "May you be inspired to weave your own powerful testimony either in words, art, or your very life itself. Mull over my story and then swirl it into the palette of your own life, with its unique and dynamic colors. None of us have all the answers, but we know the One who does."-Sara Joseph, artist and author Creativity is like an unwrapped gift from God. Its contents are mysterious, begging for action. The benevolent Giver eagerly awaits a response. Yet it is often tossed aside after merely removing the outer wrapping. Sara Joseph's story will inspire you to become fully creative and alive in Him. Regardless of the unexpected twists and turns of that journey, you may be assured of His impeccable care!
You know God is urging you to use your creative gifts for his kingdom. But in a world that quantifies “success” by the fame and fortune that few artists achieve, how do you own your identity as an artist for Christ? In Courage to Create, host of Catholic TV’s “The Renaissance Room” Clare McCallan and her artist friends share their wisdom for overcoming common obstacles in the creative life to help you fulfill your artistic calling and truly serve the Lord. Poet and performing artist Clare McCallan arrived in New York City determined to be one of the artists who “makes it.” She soon discovered, however, that there were hundreds of others just like her: eager, gifted, and broke. As she continued to ask God to help her become the writer she knew she could be, she noticed that her prayers were answered by other artists who started showing up in her life. Together, they created a supportive community for each other’s artistic vocations by transforming a dilapidated convent into the St. Joseph Home for Artisans. Through this experience, McCallan realized that what the world calls an artist and what God calls an artist are two different things. In Courage to Create, McCallan and other Catholic artists highlight the crucial lessons they learned to help other aspiring Catholic creatives step into their birthright as artists made in the image of the Creator. McCallan weaves personal experiences and interviews to identify important principles that will help you create a satisfying life of creativity, community, and joy while bringing goodness, truth, and beauty into the world. Each chapter introduces you to a member of her creative community with diverse artistic talents and backgrounds. Their stories serve as a source of hard-earned wisdom from people who have been where you are now, including Connecticut House Representative and actress Treneé McGee, who discusses bringing the gift of truth to build bridges within your community Tanzanian journalist, producer, and TED Talk personality Queen Carberry Banda, who encourages you to unleash your inner child's freedom to move and play Oil painter and muralist Adam Moniz, who highlights the empowering effect of physical space in an artist's life Writer, abuse survivor, and Spirit Fire advocate Teresa Pitt Green, who explores the connection between art and restorative justice Designer and songwriter Molly Broekman, who shares the benefits of collaboration and mentorship Throughout these chapters, you’ll also find “Artist Moments,” which offer space for personal reflection on your own creative journey. By connecting your story with those who have walked before you, Courage to Create helps you to take courage and find solidarity in the growing movement of young people betting it all on their faith, gifts, and vocation.
Business leadership coach Larry Julian helps readers navigate "the gray zone"-those make or break moments of decision making that are filled with uncertainty. There are times when intellectual and business logic are tested beyond one's perceived limits, when important decisions have no correct answers and can only be made by a leap of faith. Our true greatness lies within the gray. Julian shows readers that, with God's guidance, uncertainty is the very catalyst for making wise, impactful decisions that shape destinies. We learn to live and lead in the context of uncertainty rather than becoming paralyzed by it. GOD IS MY COACH is the means to living a significant life and to leading others in an uncertain world.
Unlock your creative potential. Embark on a captivating journey of self-discovery and boundless creativity with GodMode. In this inspiring book, the author draws from military service, artistic endeavors, and global experiences to reveal the latent superpowers that reside within us all. With each chapter, explore a different facet of your creative potential, unlocking the God mode that awaits. Embrace unique visions, tap into boundless creativity, and undergo transformative personal growth. Are you ready to discover the extraordinary within?
OUR CULTURE HAS BECOME OBSESSED WITH HUSTLING. As we struggle to keep up in a knowledge economy that never sleeps, we arm ourselves with life hacks, to-do lists, and an inbox-zero mentality, grasping at anything that will help us work faster, push harder, and produce more. There’s just one problem: most of these solutions are making things worse. Creativity isn’t produced on an assembly line, and endless hustle is ruining our mental and physical health while subtracting from our creative performance. Productivity and Creativity are not compatible; we are stuck between them, and like the opposite poles of a magnet, they are tearing us apart. When we’re told to sleep more, meditate, and slow down, we nod our heads in agreement, yet seem incapable of applying this advice in our own lives. Why do we act against our creative best interests? WE HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO FLOAT. The answer lies in our history, culture, and biology. Instead of focusing on how we work, we must understand why we work—why we believe that what we do determines who we are. Hustle and Float explores how our work culture creates contradictions between what we think we want and what we actually need, and points the way to a more humane, more sustainable, and, yes, more creative, way of working and living.
