When my dear Nannie was in her 90s, she would call herself an “old stick.” We would always lovingly tell her that she was definitely not an old stick and that she was beautiful. That God still had a purpose for her. We talked a lot about how she could pray for people. That she had the time and the heart to do so. And I know she did. Nannie loved her God, loved her church, and loved her family. And so she prayed to her heavenly Father as she sat in her chair. She was a fruitful, beautiful branch attached to the Vine.
Sometimes I feel hopeless in many situations. What can I do? What can possibly help? The only thing that can help many times is prayer. Turning that person or situation over to Jesus our Shepherd.
When you don’t know what to do, pray. If you don’t know God, pray. Ask Him to show you that He is real. He will.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5
I was talking with a good friend last evening about creativity. What triggers it, what stops it, how to get it going again when you hit a dry spot. So as we enter into the year of our Lord 2023, I thought some inspiring quotes about creativity might be what we all need to kick start what might be languishing in our spirits as we might have overindulged in the indolence that sometimes accompanies the season.
“Every artist was first an amateur.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Look at life with the eyes of a child.” “Creativity takes courage.” -Henri Matisse
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”- Albert Einstein
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:1, 27
“Creativity is a habit, and the best creativity is the result of good work habits.” – Twyla Tharp
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” -Walt Disney
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” – Colossians 3:23
Blessings as we roll into this new year. Love, Lisa
Image – Young Man Writing, Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier
“Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.” – Revelation 4:6
“…His voice was like the sound of rushing waters.” – Revelation 1:15b
“The seas have lifted up, O Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea – the Lord on high is mighty.” – Psalm 93:3-4
Thinking this morning about the utter power and strength and breadth of our God. As there is no holding back the power of the sea, there is no holding back the power of God.
And yet, with all that power is great, compassionate, forgiving, eternal love, shown to us by the great gift of His only Son, Jesus Christ.
“He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea.” – Micah 7:19
“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters.” – Psalm 18:16
Praise God for His mercy. Praise Him for His compassion. Praise God for His love. It is what keeps me going and gives me hope each day.
The little bird had grown up free. She ate the best food, learned to fly with good bird parents, sat by the waves’ edge and rested. She skimmed lightly over the water and dove down and caught fresh fish. She was happy.
One day, she flew farther along the shore and saw a line in the sand. On the other side of that line, the beach was very different. It caught her eye. At first glance, it looked like fun to the little bird. A party of birds gathered, loud noises, littered bags of used fries for the taking. She was nervous, though, and turned back to her home. As she flew, she felt her lungs breath freely in the clean air and the wide-open spaces.
But the lure of the exciting and different called her back the next day. She didn’t tell anyone; she just went. She gathered up her courage and landed among the loud birds. She tried to fit in and act like she was one of them. She boldly grabbed a fry, liked it, and then grabbed another. She stayed all day, bumping into other birds, even fighting over a choice morsel of trash.
By the end of the day, though, she felt strange and weighed down. She knew she had to go home, immediately, while she still could. She couldn’t describe it….it was just a feeling of impending danger.
She flew somewhat sluggishly, and finally made it back over the line in the sand. She slept badly all night and awoke feeling even worse. The little bird promised herself not to do that again.
It took time, but after some days, she felt better, more herself, freer. She flew as she did before and felt joy in chasing the waves. She was home, and it was good.
————————————————————
This story came about due to a book I was reading the past two days. It was very well reviewed, excellently written. I was instantly catapulted into this imaginary world created by the author, and I loved it. Couldn’t put the book down. But suddenly last evening, it changed. New plot elements were introduced that I knew would displease God. It felt dirty, wrong, and all I knew was that I had to stop reading immediately. No matter how good the book was, no matter how much I wanted to know how it ended. It just made me feel bad inside, and extremely sad. The loss of purity in our culture hit me like a brick wall. The book has gone back to the library, and I feel better. Like the bird, that was my line in the sand.
Stay strong, friends. Pray that Christ holds us very tightly through these perilous days.
Blessings, Lisa
“…let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” – 2 Corinthians 7:1b
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2
Think About These Things 