Below is the talk I gave to a group of ladies at a Friday night church event. It is accompanied by a powerpoint presentation that I will try to one day get up on youtube, and then I will post a link on here.
Created to Create
This has been a week of firsts for me! On Monday was the first day I’d been back in front of a class of students in 20 years and 2 months! I used to teach before I had children but gave it up to raise my family. By the time I was ready to get back in the classroom, there was an overabundance of teachers where we lived and very few jobs, so I went into office admin work instead and loved it! When we moved here I discovered that it didn’t matter how long it had been since I taught, the New Zealand Teacher’s Council wanted me! So I got all my paperwork in order, paid the huge fee, and waited for months until just last month I received my little white NZ teacher’s registration card! So I’m officially a New Zealand teacher and excited for what the future has in store! I plan on relieving for the first year so that I can get used to the classroom again and learn how the NZ curriculum works. God even arranged it as I have worked in a primary school office for the past 3.5 years and have developed a great working relationship with the school so I already have a lot of relief days booked!
The other first this week is me standing in front of you! I have never done this before but have often felt that someday I would like to, so thank you for asking me! It’s always good to step out of our comfort zones and try new things!
Tonight I am going to talk about how we have been created in God’s image and since he is the great creator, then we too, have been created to create. I have a few things to share with you and then I have a powerpoint presentation to end with.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. It’s the 5th word in the Bible so it must be pretty important! The next 27 verses explain all the things God created. Later in my powerpoint we will visually walk through each of them.
In verse 27 it says that ‘God said, "Let us make man in our image”. We were specifically made in God’s image. Nothing else was. Not any of the animals, none of the plants, nothing in the heavens. Only us. We were made in God’s image in ways that we won’t understand until we get to heaven and see him face to face. It’s just too big for us to fathom. But we do know that God is a creator. The creator. And if we are made in his image then that must mean that we have been created with the desire and ability to create.
God is so creative. Only God can create something out of nothing. He just spoke and it came into existence. However, as humans we must create from the raw materials he has provided for us, but we must create. It’s in our DNA.
I’m sure you’ve heard people say, ‘I’m not creative.’ Well it’s just not true! We are all creative, we are just creative in different ways. We assume creativity means making things with our hands, like making a crafts, or decorating our house, or baking a delicious dessert or writing a song. But there are so many other ways to be creative.
Maybe you are skilled with a soccer ball, as my daughter is. She is creative in the way she manages that ball! I could never do that but it just comes naturally to her. Or maybe you’re creative in your ability to play the guitar and sing, like my other daughter is. Recently she picked up a ukulele and figured out how to play it! That’s being creative! Or maybe you’re like my third daughter, who can take a script and totally become a different person in character in a dramatic production. Or maybe you’re like my sister-in-law who is absolutely amazing in a classroom full of 6 year olds. She creatively teaches them day in and day out. Or my aunt who makes the best fruit pies around. Or the hairdresser who can see a picture and re-create the perfect hair do. Or maybe you are amazing in the garden...and you need to come to my house to help me with mine!
The list is endless, I think you get the picture. We all have something that we do that is considered creative...something we create that brings us great pleasure... something that we do, that we just want to look up at God and say, ‘Look what I did, Daddy’. I picture Him smiling at my accomplishment like a proud parent who posts his child’s latest work on the fridge. The enjoyment and fulfilment that we feel with a job well done is but a small reflection of what God experienced when He looked out at his creation and declared it was good.
It is important that we delight in what creative talent God has given us. I am sure you know what I mean when I say that there are just some things we do whether it be at home or at work, that just make us feel good, gives us energy, a sense of accomplishment, and a feeling of delight. God delights in his creation and what he has made and He wants us to do the same. We need to develop and use these gifts and talents for ourselves, our families, our church and our communities.
For those of you who are wives, mums, homemakers or someday will be, I like this quote about our homes, the place in which we live: “In all of its many forms, creating a home is performed with reverence for the beauty of the mundane, elevating everyday tasks into a gentle art.’ Consider your home a place to practise your creativity daily. Do the little things that bring you delight, whether it’s folding your towels a certain way, or arranging a beautiful bouquet of flowers for the table or making a gourmet meal. Make your home reflect how God has made you to be creative and take joy and pleasure in it.
One of the things I’m doing this year is working on a photo blog on line. I have committed to taking a photo each day and posting it on my photo website. I really enjoy photography. I feel it is one of the gifts God has given me to be creative with.
I have used my photographs to make the slide show I am now going to show you. Along with the slide show I have added scripture and quotes on creativity. I have tried to use photos of people doing different creative things when possible, otherwise they are scenic shots, showing off God’s creativity. I hope you enjoy it. There are two songs, so it’s not over at the end of the first song. The first song I’ve used is a live concert version so you will hear a lot of clapping. Think of it as applause for God’s creation. Enjoy!
Slide show using a variety of my photos accompanied by 'What a Wonderful World' by Louis Armstrong and then 'Creation Calls' by Brian Doerksen.
I hope that this has encouraged you to embrace the ways that God has made you creative. Take time to figure out what they are, if you don’t know or you think you aren’t creative in any way. You are! I can guarantee it! Ask a friend or your family what ways they see creativity in you. And make sure to encourage those around you when you see and experience the ways that they are using their creativity. Go! Create!
Thank you!
Created to Create
This has been a week of firsts for me! On Monday was the first day I’d been back in front of a class of students in 20 years and 2 months! I used to teach before I had children but gave it up to raise my family. By the time I was ready to get back in the classroom, there was an overabundance of teachers where we lived and very few jobs, so I went into office admin work instead and loved it! When we moved here I discovered that it didn’t matter how long it had been since I taught, the New Zealand Teacher’s Council wanted me! So I got all my paperwork in order, paid the huge fee, and waited for months until just last month I received my little white NZ teacher’s registration card! So I’m officially a New Zealand teacher and excited for what the future has in store! I plan on relieving for the first year so that I can get used to the classroom again and learn how the NZ curriculum works. God even arranged it as I have worked in a primary school office for the past 3.5 years and have developed a great working relationship with the school so I already have a lot of relief days booked!
The other first this week is me standing in front of you! I have never done this before but have often felt that someday I would like to, so thank you for asking me! It’s always good to step out of our comfort zones and try new things!
Tonight I am going to talk about how we have been created in God’s image and since he is the great creator, then we too, have been created to create. I have a few things to share with you and then I have a powerpoint presentation to end with.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. It’s the 5th word in the Bible so it must be pretty important! The next 27 verses explain all the things God created. Later in my powerpoint we will visually walk through each of them.
In verse 27 it says that ‘God said, "Let us make man in our image”. We were specifically made in God’s image. Nothing else was. Not any of the animals, none of the plants, nothing in the heavens. Only us. We were made in God’s image in ways that we won’t understand until we get to heaven and see him face to face. It’s just too big for us to fathom. But we do know that God is a creator. The creator. And if we are made in his image then that must mean that we have been created with the desire and ability to create.
God is so creative. Only God can create something out of nothing. He just spoke and it came into existence. However, as humans we must create from the raw materials he has provided for us, but we must create. It’s in our DNA.
I’m sure you’ve heard people say, ‘I’m not creative.’ Well it’s just not true! We are all creative, we are just creative in different ways. We assume creativity means making things with our hands, like making a crafts, or decorating our house, or baking a delicious dessert or writing a song. But there are so many other ways to be creative.
Maybe you are skilled with a soccer ball, as my daughter is. She is creative in the way she manages that ball! I could never do that but it just comes naturally to her. Or maybe you’re creative in your ability to play the guitar and sing, like my other daughter is. Recently she picked up a ukulele and figured out how to play it! That’s being creative! Or maybe you’re like my third daughter, who can take a script and totally become a different person in character in a dramatic production. Or maybe you’re like my sister-in-law who is absolutely amazing in a classroom full of 6 year olds. She creatively teaches them day in and day out. Or my aunt who makes the best fruit pies around. Or the hairdresser who can see a picture and re-create the perfect hair do. Or maybe you are amazing in the garden...and you need to come to my house to help me with mine!
The list is endless, I think you get the picture. We all have something that we do that is considered creative...something we create that brings us great pleasure... something that we do, that we just want to look up at God and say, ‘Look what I did, Daddy’. I picture Him smiling at my accomplishment like a proud parent who posts his child’s latest work on the fridge. The enjoyment and fulfilment that we feel with a job well done is but a small reflection of what God experienced when He looked out at his creation and declared it was good.
It is important that we delight in what creative talent God has given us. I am sure you know what I mean when I say that there are just some things we do whether it be at home or at work, that just make us feel good, gives us energy, a sense of accomplishment, and a feeling of delight. God delights in his creation and what he has made and He wants us to do the same. We need to develop and use these gifts and talents for ourselves, our families, our church and our communities.
For those of you who are wives, mums, homemakers or someday will be, I like this quote about our homes, the place in which we live: “In all of its many forms, creating a home is performed with reverence for the beauty of the mundane, elevating everyday tasks into a gentle art.’ Consider your home a place to practise your creativity daily. Do the little things that bring you delight, whether it’s folding your towels a certain way, or arranging a beautiful bouquet of flowers for the table or making a gourmet meal. Make your home reflect how God has made you to be creative and take joy and pleasure in it.
One of the things I’m doing this year is working on a photo blog on line. I have committed to taking a photo each day and posting it on my photo website. I really enjoy photography. I feel it is one of the gifts God has given me to be creative with.
I have used my photographs to make the slide show I am now going to show you. Along with the slide show I have added scripture and quotes on creativity. I have tried to use photos of people doing different creative things when possible, otherwise they are scenic shots, showing off God’s creativity. I hope you enjoy it. There are two songs, so it’s not over at the end of the first song. The first song I’ve used is a live concert version so you will hear a lot of clapping. Think of it as applause for God’s creation. Enjoy!
Slide show using a variety of my photos accompanied by 'What a Wonderful World' by Louis Armstrong and then 'Creation Calls' by Brian Doerksen.
I hope that this has encouraged you to embrace the ways that God has made you creative. Take time to figure out what they are, if you don’t know or you think you aren’t creative in any way. You are! I can guarantee it! Ask a friend or your family what ways they see creativity in you. And make sure to encourage those around you when you see and experience the ways that they are using their creativity. Go! Create!
Thank you!
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