"Soli Deo Gloria"

I picked up my Bible the other day for my quiet time reading and an old copy of a devotional magazine fell out of the front cover. As I picked it up, I glanced at the date on the page it was folded open to - April 19, 2011.

The day my Dad died.

And for the first time the memory of that day didn’t crush my heart. Instead, I thought back over the past almost three years and marveled at the journey God has had me walking since then.
I knew immediately why I'd saved that particular piece. Even if it hadn’t been completely clear to me that day.

It was titled “Creative”.

You see, when my Dad died, it was the beginning of an awakening in me – a work that God was doing – one that would ultimately change the course of my life.
I always knew I was “creative”, but I’d floated from one thing to another, never quite finding my niche. I know now that was all part of his plan. My journey from rebellious and out of control teen to focused and driven police officer to successful businesswoman and entrepreneur to skating Mom and artist has all brought me to this place.

Writer.

He’s led me through a life of experience after experience allowing the cycle of success and failure to shape me into the woman he can use to bring glory to Himself.

Because it’s not about me.
It’s about Him.

Soli Deo Gloria.

To God alone be the glory.

Johann Sebastian Bach, one of the greatest composers ever, was known to have written those words in the margins of his music scores. He knew that all his gifts, his talent, his brilliance was a gift from God. His creative genius not his, but God working through him to bring glory to Himself.

To God alone be the glory.

So I wondered - how do I use the creative gifts God has given me to bring glory to Him?

Do I bring glory to Him? Do I consider my creative acts to be an act of worship? Of praise to God who has gifted me? 
Maybe the "Do I" is more important than the 'how.
For it's not my ability - it's God working through me to bring glory to Himself.
God has gifted each of us uniquely.
Created us to be creative for Him.

When we stop to consider why He has gifted us in the first place we have to remember that He is the author of creativity itself.

He made ALL things. He made us.
Every art, every act, every dream, plan or idea happens because He designed us to be creative.
In HIS image.

"So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." - Genesis 1:27 (NLT)

The dictionary defines the word CREATE this way: to cause to come into being.
God spoke us into life.

In HIS image.

So, when we use our unique creative gifts, it's not only an act of worship, it's a transformation.
We are becoming more like the God who created us in HIS image.
It's His hearts desire for us to be like Him.
Our creativity is part of our journey towards holiness. It shapes who we become for Him.

"...Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy." - Leviticus 19:2b

A few of you are thinking “I’m not creative.” “I don’t have that gift.” “I’m just a…..”
Ok, stop.  
"So God created human beings in his own image.”

Soli Deo Gloria.
To Him alone be the glory.

When we think about being creative, we always consider the obvious - writer, artist, sculptor, illustrator, musician, painter, dancer, actor.
The arts are the easy ones.

But what about the not so obvious?
What has God put in your heart to do, that only you can do in your way just for Him?
For His glory?  

Soli Deo Gloria.

Do you cook? Garden? Clean? Are you an architect? A builder? A doctor? Nurse? File Clerk? Teacher? Student? Salesman?

Do you lay brick? Drive a truck? Handle accounts? Argue cases in court? Put out fires? Direct traffic? Play hockey? Figure skate? Drive a zamboni?

The world has many names for creative - handy, clever, inventive, innovative.
And it’s not so much in WHAT we do, it’s how we do it. The way we use our God given creativity to touch the lives of those around us.   
You may be a stay-at-home Mom, surrounded by dirty dishes, piles of laundry and carpool duty. Hardly the stuff of artistic inspiration by the world’s standards. But only you are uniquely positioned to create a loving environment for your family by how you handle the tasks in your every day.

Soli Deo Gloria.

"So God created human beings in his own image.”
"Then God looked over all he had made and he saw that it was very good!" - Genesis 1:31 (NLT)

Soli Deo Gloria.
To Him alone be the glory.

With a Courageous Heart,
~~Robin