Create From Rest: Inspiration for Artists and Entrepreneurs
Then God created coffee, gave it to Adam and said that it was good. 💁🏾♀️💖☕️ I hope today as you reflect on the divine and fellowship, eat and drink with others that you take time to savor love, reflect and rest. If this season taught us anything it’s to take a sacred pause and slow down to live more fully and connected to the Source. God gave us rhythms of life that Jesus exemplified for us to thrive and flourish and after He created the world even He rested.
What makes us think we’re exempt from rest if even God did it? Sometimes as artists and creators (and former workaholics who have been redeemed 🙋🏽♀️) we forget that the best and most impactful creation comes from resting in God. It’s not just about taking a day of rest which renews and rejuvenates our bodies and minds but also a deep rest of our minds and spirit where we’re not striving and grinding desperately for success and acclaim but creating with care, discovery and diligence from a place of love, peace and security knowing who we are and that our power and success comes from a greater source.
Today as you grab your coffee or beverage of choice take some time to breathe in peace and rest knowing your art and creativity can have more beautiful impact than you ever imagined when you create with your Creator and let go of the pressure to perform and be affirmed by man. You are a creation full of purpose and beauty – rest in that truth.
(🎨 Art “Creation of Adam” at a local university coffee shop by Madison Perkins).
Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Put My yoke upon your shoulders—it might appear heavy at first, but it is perfectly fitted to your curves. Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. When you are yoked to Me, your weary souls will find rest. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 (VOICE)
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)
Editor’s Journal: Trust God At All Times and Song Inspiration
We can trust God at all times even in the world we live in today and in the storms of life because we know the One who holds the world has us in His hands when we put our hope in Him. Love is trustworthy always.
.
Here’s one of my favorite songs in Haitian Creole: Konfie’m Nan Dieu. The lyrics loosely translate to: Trust in the Lord, know that He takes care of me. In the wilderness or in bad times. The oceans may rise but God holds me firm, my Papa in Heaven will take care of me… .
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV
God’s Love Sets Us Free to Play and Dream… Editor’s Journal and Inspiration From Bethel Music
Get this song and others on Bethel’s album “You Make Me Brave (Live)” on iTunes…
Let us learn to trust the heart of Love from which freedom flows and everything begins…
We began our journey on this Earth with the freedom to discover, to explore with wide-eyed wonder, we dreamed, we played naturally – until we lost our trust and fear drew us away from our real life reverie and the freedom that is ours…
What would happened if we embraced the childlike freedom to dream and play again?
I’ve been learning the freedom of having childlike faith and joy since interning at the children’s ministry at my church and seeing how full of joy and wonder the kids are…
Permission to Play Flourish Conference
Flourish 2015 Conference Recap from Covenant Church on Vimeo.
Recently at my church the theme of the women’s ministry conference was “Permission to Play” and when I heard it announced it was like a nudge of confirmation. God has been instilling the lesson of trusting Him in me for the past few years – since He rocked my world in a vivid encounter in 2009 giving me visions of God’s deep love for us…
In one of the visions I saw little kids giggling and playing dress up, and it was as if He was showing me how joyous and free like kids we were meant to be. In another I was in a vast forest that reminded me of the Garden and I was a little girl dancing in a pure white dress asking my Daddy question after question, trying to make sense of life and why things are the way they are.
His response was a deep, extravagant impartation of His love, a glimpse of His passionate plan from the Beginning to end, for us His children, to discover His love and dwell with Him forever and words I will never forget: “Do you trust Me?”
Trust is so important in the journey of purpose and living out the dreams we were made for! Jesus Himself says that it’s like a child that we enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Let’s just rest, play, embrace joy and trust Him, not leaning on our own understanding – He’s got you covered!
And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3-4
These songs from Bethel Music have spoken to me recently, I they do you too, as you worship, dance and stare in wonder at our King…
Get this song and others on Bethel’s album “You Make Me Brave (Live)” on iTunes…
Get this song and others on Bethel’s album “You Make Me Brave (Live)” on iTunes…
P.S. Click Here to Join Me On My Journey of Learning to Play and Dream at The Dare Dreamer Movement
Editor’s Inspiration: You and Your Dreams Were Made to Flourish
The righteous will flourish like the palm tree, they will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the LORD, They will flourish in the courts of our God. Psalm 92:12-13
The beautiful thing about purpose is that everyone was born with it – the question is will you choose to fully embrace and move in it?
You’ve caught glimpses of it ever since you were a child, when your hope and wonder was still fresh and you explored the world with joy and wide-eyed awe. You’ve always imagined making an impact in the unique way you were created to – so what are you waiting for? You’ve already been chosen…
Deep down you know you weren’t made for the ordinary, you may have been rejected or always felt like a mis-fit – but it’s because you are from more royal origins. You were made to live out a story greater than your wildest dreams, grander than your highest hopes, to love boldly, sowing seeds of healing and setting others free.
This beautiful purpose crafted and written for you, and those you are connected to, is more captivating than any fairy-tale, more riveting than an epic legend or film…So why do we constantly seek outward, aimless distraction, yearning for merit-less validation, entertaining meaningless excuses and powerless foes like fear that dull and pull us away from our real-life reverie?
This year is ours to be found and to seek, to create, dance and play on purpose with childlike belief, to cultivate, thrive and flourish, to savor the love we were made for and finally live out that dream courageously. This 2015 we’re waiting in eager anticipation for you to come awake and realize the truth of who you were always meant to be…free.
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. Psalm 52:8
They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:8
Love More, Fear Less: Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
“There is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear…”
Love changes the way we see ourselves, others and the world around us – we see truth and light where others may see despair and darkness. We can move in courage and be at peace even when it seems like our world gives way and our expectations fall into the heart of the sea…
I’ve been learning in places that shake and stretch me that if I intentionally fix my eyes on God and truly live out a life of love with Him leading, fear has no power and doubt will fade. Live boldly every day in the fullness of love so rich and pure, so measureless and strong – you will always be fulfilled and will never miss out on the greatest of dreams, the destiny and One you were made for to love and be loved forever…
#HemakesusBrave #Lovemadeaway #childlikefaith #belove #beLoved #befree #trustmore #fearless #bannerofboldness #capeofcourage
Click here to share this Word