Creativity and imagination are at the heartbeat of faith. 

“So God CREATED man in His own image, in the image of God He CREATED him; male and female He CREATED them.”  Genesis 1:27

I love picturing this…  is there anything more creative than this?  

God’s capacity for creativity is endless!  So therefore, to be created in God’s own image is to have within us the endless capacity for creativity as well.  Think about that for a minute. That is incredible to contemplate and imagine what that looks like for each one of us.

And imagine we should… or should I say we GET to.

Jesus models this for us in His use of parables. He invites us to think and imagine what a life of faith looks like.  We get to participate in the creativity He designed us for.  Like the ink on the paper, the sugar in the cake, or the flowers on the long table; it’s the ordinary, common things that combine together into something He inspires us to do with that little mustard seed of faith. Oh how I needed this reminder today from the Holy Spirit!

Maybe you're in a season that’s sapped the inspiration, imagination or creativity from you?

I know it’s been a long season of “Winter” in this area for me personally.  But it’s starting to grow again… like the tiny seeds that are starting to sprout in our plantings.  Just like that seed that’s planted in faith, in the dirt, we don’t see the secret work happening, but we know it is.  And even though it may have the most ordinary start, it grows, and sprouts, and finally breaks through the dirt to become big enough to live, flourish and then nourish our lives.  

I’m ready to imagine again… and I’ll take a leap of faith and say you might be too?

So here’s my Friday Journaling prompt for you today:

What little seed of faith is the Lord creatively growing in your life?

To take it a step further… I know that seed may be under the dirt right now, but how can we be image bearers of Christ through the creative spirit He has put inside of us? How can we go forward in faith knowing that what He started will grow and become something for His purposes and His glory?

It’s there in all of us, and we each have the freedom in Him to practice what that looks like.  Like the cultivating of the plant, our lives are cultivated by imagination and creativity that is embedded in our faith in God.  

I love this verse and I know I’ve shared it before, but listen to it again:

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24 

Whatever you do…

That speaks of freedom friends. There is creativity and imagination all wrapped up in this verse!  There is work to be done, yes… but that work, when it is done heartily for the Lord, is such a blessing to the world, to our family and friends, and to us as well.

Personally, I found that once the Lord grew my mustard seed faith, He opened my heart to the real reason for our retreats: pointing women to Him through Art & Faith.

And the gathering of complete strangers around a table of common faith, combined with imagination, creativity and encouragement, awakens a creative life of faith every time! It may be something we didn’t see coming, but we believed it would happen, just like the seeds planted in the dirt. Then before our eyes it becomes visible because our Lord God is bringing new life from ordinary, common things that He alone is making beautiful!

And it makes common sense… together.

We were made for community in Christ Jesus. We were born with creativity breathed into us. And there is a common goal of a life of faith that will shine a light in this dark world. Let’s come together and let our hearts beat again.

I love you all and hope you find encouragement here. We are so excited to be back to our retreats and look forward to the creativity, imagination and encouragement the Lord is going to pour out when we are gathered together in Italy this Fall!

We know the retreats are filled up, but if you feel lead to join us please reach out to us! We ALWAYS know (and see evidence of it time & time again) that if the Lord is calling you to come to a retreat, then He will make a place for you at the table. We are praying and working on next years retreats and should have those dates and details for you by middle of THIS June! So excited about that.

We’re also working on a re-boot of this website, so it you come check us out and things are a little wonky… well, it is a work in progress friends. :)

Thank you again for taking the time to come here and read the words the Lord puts on my heart to share. I am so blessed by your words of encouragement and kindness each time.

I hope you all have a GREAT weekend!

Hugs,

Laura McCollough