Create
We may not need to come up with our own words. We may not need words at all. We can be creative and let our artistic expressions speak deeply to us.
Copying Scripture
In Deut. 17, God gives a writing assignment to the future kings of Israel -- they are to write for themselves a copy of the law. He didn't command them to have a copy made for them, but that they should make a copy for themselves. Maybe you'd like to make a copy of your favorite verse. One morning I decided to copy some verses from Isaiah 1. And the next morning I decided to copy another paragraph. And three months later I had may own Reader's Digest version of Isaiah. To this day, those mornings making my own copy are deeply significant.
wrestling with god "Poster Sized"
Sometimes I just need more space to wrestle with God. How was it fair not to let Moses go into the Promised Land? After all he had done, why was hitting the rock such an offense? I felt drawn to get a piece of poster paper, and began copying Scripture as I wrestled with my questions. My search led me from Exodus, into Isaiah, and then to the New Testament. Finally, I got it. The poster remains unfinished, rolled up in my closet. The goal wasn't to create a work of art to hang on my wall, but to seek the Lord when my heart cried out, "Not Fair," and to listen to His Word, and come to understand His character.
sketching
Sometimes it's helpful to sketch while I pray. It keeps my mind focused. Whether it's a regular pattern that I find nearby (like the tiles on the floor) or a landscape. If it's helpful, try drawing in your journal when you are in the mood.
Drawing helps me to notice the tiniest creatures, God's slightest brush strokes and color combinations. I enjoy the beauty of God's creation and let it lead me into worship and adoration. Who is like our God?
reflection
I wanted to learn about hospitality.
My friend, Jackie, makes me feel so welcome when I go to her house. What does she do that makes me feel so genuinely welcomed? As I pondered this question, I wrote "welcome" around a page in my journal. And then I began to write. I remembered what it felt like when Jackie opened her front door, what I saw and heard. What did she do that made me feel so welcomed?
Being creative for a few moments helped me to remember and reflect.
PAINTING and JOURNALING -
Both of these were inspired by Let’s Make Art videos.
Last week I painted a few pages in my journal and I’ve been coming back to fill in my thoughts. In the swirl I noted my feelings of disorientation and in the spaces coming out of the swirl, I’ve written what’s been deeply meaningful to me.
I also did a free-write, just expressing what was on my mind. When I was done, I pulled out the golden thought: Art and Nature’s Beauty is what got me through four weeks of feeling very disoriented. I painted clouds over the top of my writing and when the paint had dried, I taped the golden thought over the top.
“The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”