"I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure."
The first time I heard this quote of Eric Liddell from the movie Chariots of Fire, it filled me with gratitude and freed my mind to understand that it pleases God to gift us, and that He would actually take pleasure in watching us express the passions that He births in us. When I was a young believer, I used to think maybe art had no value, and because I loved making stuff--really enjoyed it--there was something wrong with that. I had the idea that living a life for Christ mostly involved suffering and self-denial. So if I was having fun, how could I be bringing glory to God?
A silly thought. A baby thought. While these things are part of the Christian walk, they aren't the whole picture. Yes, daily we take up our cross. But it is the dance of the resurrection that keeps us going. God does take pleasure when His gifts are pleasing to us, and creating beauty has value in His Kingdom. Have you ever read in the Old Testament where God instructs Moses to make priestly clothes for his brother Aaron to wear while ministering to Him? "And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments, to sanctify him, that he may minister to Me as priest." (Exodus 28:2-3 italics mine) This encourages me.
So I'm thankful to be a part of this creative community of gifted artisans, joining Emily today
Take an old warming tray (sometimes called a hot plate). They get warm enough to melt crayons or oil pastels, but never too hot to touch. Lay a piece of paper on top of the tray.
Your crayon turns into a wonderful liquid brush to paint with. It's really enjoyable. Give it a try!
Burning lamp...when I melt crayons, I feel His pleasure :)
26 comments:
You have made me cry, for reals.
I love you. you are so wise, friend owl.
your words are centering. Thank you.
"Yes, daily we take up our cross. But it is the dance of the resurrection that keeps us going."
I LOVE these words. Love this post. Such wisdom, here. Thank you.
..when i run i feel his pleasure..like this - when you paint you feel his pleasure. so glad that god has given us gifts and when we walk in them, we rejoice and he smiles
I love that quote from Chariots of Fire. Thank you for sharing! ANd reminding.
Stop over from Thursdays :)
The dance of the resurrection--yes! I'm so happy you melt crayons to the glory of God!
So very true!!!! When I worked, I had that verse on my contracts and business cards.
I will try your group...I need some pushing in my art right now.
Thank you Jodi, for your always kind and true words, much needed.
Love you,
Rayanne
i love this. how can we not create when made in the image of a creative God?
cool project, too!
I believe God takes great pleasure when He sees His children creating art in the gifting He's given.... Made in His likeness we are born to create.
This is great, it is not about punishing ourselves,but yielding ourselves to God becoming the person he created us to be. Created to be creative, whether that is with math problems, words, canvas or crayons :-)
I love this post Jodi. I used to think much the same thoughts. These days I look at creation and just know that the Father delights in the creative gifts He has given us. It makes my heart fill with joy!
oh, the FREEDOM. this is so perfect. i feel God's pleasure too, when i paint.. thank you for joining me, artist-friend. i delight in your work, for it is beautiful. xoxo
Amen to that! Beauty, creating beauty, revealing beauty, studying beauty...the beauty of this created world that speaks to us of Him...I love Eugene Petersen's translation of the Lord's Prayer in The Message, for one thing, because it ends with "You're the One in charge! You can do anything You want! You are ablaze in beauty!" (Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory....)
Jodi
first let me say a big thank you for that beautiful comment and lovely quote you left me this morning, it set chaotic random thoughts and the contrast set order to my days.
YES, YES and Yes, all about us are shining stars and lofty dreams. Love the melting crayons, shame you live so far,or I would take some art classes from you.
Have a lovely, week,
Joanny
I had that quote embroidered for a friend to hang in his office many years ago. He was a runner and a pastor and he loved that verse (so do I). :)
I'm so fortunate to have been "mentored" through books and tapes by Francis and Edith Schaffer as a new Christian. They write so much about God and art and creativity and that we are made in the image of a Creator so we must create.
Beautiful words, Jodi, and not a silly or baby thought--really. This past year I spent some time discussing this very thing with a graduating youth who could not see the possible unity in having fun and glorifying God, particularly sad, I thought, as he is an aspiring and passionate artist. I just read a great book on beauty (and started another!) but have had no time to blog. In case you're interested the book is called Beauty for Truth's Sake by Stratford Caldecott.
love this, the words and the art.
any advice on how to make this happen for those of us who don't own a hot plate? i'd love to create some chaos with this and my two year-old.
Wise words and full of joy. Thank you
keLi - I've had success by simply leaving oil pastels or crayons out in the hot sun. A half hour should do it. If you meant where to find an old hot plate, I have found mine in thrift shops. For a two-year old I would recommend the sunlight method and large sheets of newsprint.
Melissa - thank you, thank you, and I will definitely look for that book.
Brenda - I wish I had known about Francis and Edith when I was a young believer, but I'm happy to report that we raised our children on their books. And we loved the How Shall We Then Live video series.
I wonder what the music of color sounds like? I bet you know! ;^)
thanks, Jodi! the hot sun is something we are in no shortage of around here ... glad to put it to a use other than making young boys stinky.
I love your art. So heart felt. No hot plate, so we'll have to use the sun method. There was me thinking that I wish I could sign up for a tomato canning lesson with you. Now I'd need an art one as well.
Beautiful ideas and inspirations now that I am a grandmother with young grandchildren! Thank you Jodi!
Jodi,
It worked, Yay!
May I just say...I love this. That quote from Eric Liddell--it squared things up for me too. He knows us--He made us this way. Sometimes I still fight those "baby thoughts" (love that)--but I know those feelings of insecurity, of not enough...I know where those come from.
Thanks for playing today!
Loved this post today...tho' I am reading rather tardily! I loved the words "yes we take up our cross daily, but it is the dance of resurrection that keeps us going!" I think that might find its way on a mixed media piece with your permission!
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