Keep Creating and Become a Generous Giver

We are all creators. Made in the image of Creator God, we pour out from our being the ideas he places in us. For some, it is home decorating. Others, creating art or writing. Still others, building websites or creating graphics. 

I'm convinced that when we use the gifts God has blessed us with to bless others, we in turn will be blessed again. That is why I say develop your gifts, but share them with the world. Don't keep them to yourself. 

Be a Giver

I share my art online. I share about my other niche interests on social media too. 

I look for opportunities to give generously to various charities or individuals. But I know I can't give away all our family's personal resources, so I try to encourage others to also join in. 

I share on social media, posts and information I think will either be helpful to the person who created the original post, or helpful to the person who will see it. 

Sometimes OUR GIFT is as simple as using our network to share the giftings of others.  (see verse)

Proverbs 27:2  

Don't call attention to yourself; 

let others do that for you.

Creativity is Therapeutic 

The act of creating is helpful to us personally too. I don't have scientific studies to share, but I know creating at my art table is one way I unwind. It's therapeutic. I look forward to it at day's end.

And snapping photos on my Sabbath is a way I do something different that day that is enjoyable and calming. 

(A Facebook post by 

Curry's Artists' Materials)

Self-Coaching Prompt 

What gifts do you have? 

Do you need help in identifying them? 

What is one thing you can't not do? 

(To discover your passions, consider a look at my ebook 

What's Next? In Midlife: Identify Your Top 5 Essential Passions.)

In order to bless others as mentioned above, consider these tips:

1. Develop the gifts God has given you.   

2 Timothy 1:6 (NIV)  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

2. Move forward in confidence that God will work through you.  

Philippians 2:13 (NIV) for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

 

Sometimes, like the boy in Mark who seemed to be the only one in the crowd with food (bread loaves and fish), we feel we don't have much to offer.  But God will multiply the little we do offer.   

We are each unique. Our niche interests are God's gift to us, and what we do with them is our gift back to God. 

A Few Tips to Infuse Your Life with Spiritual Balance

 

A collage I created this past spring.

In my life journey, I stumbled upon a profound truth: we can't possibly master everything through trial and error alone. The secret? Learning from one another. 

Everything in life is spiritual--our relationships, our creativity, and all that is in the world. And when we operate with love and do what we do for God, our activities are a form of spiritual worship.

An acrylic painting. Available for purchase on my
Fine Art America page. 

The life message conveyed in the following guidance is about cultivating a balanced and spiritually enriched life. Here are some special ingredients I'm offering you to infuse into your own life journey:

1. Care Less

Focus less on worldly concerns. Yes, care deeply about loving God and others, but let go of excessive worry, stress over material possessions, and care about the opinions of others. 

2. Empathize but with Boundaries and Prayer

Be loving. That is what God wants. But it is also important to not allow someone's pain and problems to become your own. How can you care less? Entrust it all to God's care in prayer.

3. Use the word 'Opportunity' instead of 'Problem'

Life's issues become opportunities for asking God what to do about them. Every situation that arises is an opportunity to learn something, try something, take a risk, or even fail. Even in failing, there is growth. Once you give it to God, watch Him work things out. Then thank him.

4. Trust that God is Actively Working

God speaks to others just as much as He speaks to you. You're not so unique that you're the only one He communicates with. He can guide and speak to your husband, son, daughter, or friend. Step aside, relinquish control, and witness God in action.

5. Seek Out Beauty in the Everyday 

Beauty is all around you if you seek it. Working from my home office, I'm surrounded by windows that offer ever-changing glimpses of nature. I often pause to capture these views in photographs. I step outdoors often. I make a point to savour life's simple pleasures. I adorn my workspace with delightful decor that I enjoy. Embracing beauty adds a touch of joy and enrichment to life. 

May you walk your life's journey today with a heart filled with love and faith, finding balance, embracing opportunities in every challenge, trusting in God's guidance, and discovering beauty in the everyday. 

May your days be filled with joy, purpose, and spiritual enrichment.

“Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you.

He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”

Psalms 55:22